Under-five Mortality and Associated Factors among Children Born from 15-49 Years Old Mothers in Haramaya Town, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background: The global under-five mortality rate has dropped from almost 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 43 in 2015. The Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey, 2019 shows 55 under-five deaths per 1,000 live births. In the eastern part of Ethiopia, evidence from the Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Kersa district of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region suggested the decline of under-five mortality rate from 131.8 per 1000 live births in 2008 to 77.4 per 1000 live births in 2013. The death rates still remain far from the Sustainable Development Goals’ target reduction to 25 or less per 1000 live births by 2030. However, the magnitude and determinants of under-five mortality is not studied in Haramaya town. Objective: To assess the under-five mortality rate and associated factors among children born during August 07, 2015- August 06, 2020 in Haramaya town, east Ethiopia by August 07–31/2020. Methodology: Quantitative cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on 391 pairs of 15-49 years old mothers and their live-born under-five children selected using systematic random sampling technique from Haramaya town to cmpare mortality between <=24 and >=25 mother’s age groups. Data were collected using interview-based questionnaire; double entered into EpiData 3.1; and then exported to statistical package for social sciences program version 20.0 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis (p-value <0.20) was performed to examine crude association of predictors with under-five mortality, and then multiple logistic regression analysis (p-value <0.05) to measure the statistical association. Results: The death of 28 out of 372 live births gave an under-five mortality rate of 75 per 1000 live births. Children born in households with less than 6 members had 7. 98 times higher odds of dying than those born in households with at least 6 members (AOR =7.98, 95% CI =1.59-40.17). Those children who did not feed colostrum were associated with 17.45 times increased risk of under-five deaths compared to colostrum-fed ones (AOR =17.45, 95% CI =6.54-46.55). Conclusion: The study suggests that 75 per 1000 live births die before celebrating their fifth birth day. Household size and colostrum feeding are the significantly associated factors.Recommendation: All concerned should inform the mothers the role of identified factors like household size and colostrum feeding in child survival.