Contribution of verbal autopsy to the measurement of infant and child mortality in rural area in Niger

Abstract

Introduction : Infant and child mortality is a major public health problem in Niger, country where many births and deaths of children occur at home. The objective of this work was to study the contribution of verbal autopsy in the measurement of infant and child mortality in a rural area in Niger. Methodology : A survey was conducted over a two-year period from january 2015 to december 2016 among parents of children aged between 1 month and 5 years who died in Boboye department. Dependent variable was mortality. Data were analysed using Epi Info 3.5.1 et STATA 11 sofware. The Pearson chi-square test was used (p<0,05). Results : Of the 1992 registered live births, 109 cases of death of children under 5 years of age were recorded (mortality rate of 54.71‰). The age group from 12 to 59 months was the most represented with 41,66‰. Malaria was the most common cause of death with 33.03%. Age less than 12 months, female gender, and absence of undernutrition were non-significant protective factors for death. The same was true for children whose mothers were not bedridden at the time of death. Conclusion : The verbal autopsy is an interesting alternative for the measurement of infant and child mortality indicators. Presumed malaria was the leading cause of death.