Abstract:
Background: Neonatal mortality rate has been declining at a very slow pace in Ethiopia. Access to education has also been improving in this country. Thus, this study aims to assess whether or not maternal education had any effect on this trend.
Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the trends of neonatal mortality among different educational level groups in Ethiopia using the nationally representative Ethiopian Demographic health survey of 2000, 2005 and 2011
Methods: This study is based on secondary data analysis of Demographic health survey 2000-2011 data set. The original study design was cross-sectional study design. The trends of neonatal mortality rate based on maternal education level during the three Demographic health surveys (2000-2011) analyzed to examine whether or not there is significant trend difference by educational level. The complex sample logistic regression analysis method applied to measure the association between risk factors and neonatal mortality.
Result: The patterns of neonatal mortality rate in the three DHS by maternal education level (no education, primary education, secondary education and higher education) were in 2000 (46.7, 44.8, 28.39) in 2005 (44.7, 38.8, and 23.4) and in 2011 (37.6, 35.7, and 32.3) per 1000 live births in their respective period of study. The trend of neonatal mortality rate has got significant change across the study period for neonates who have mothers no education since its p-value <.0.05. The AOR for neonates whose mothers with no education were at 95% CI 16 (4.7, 55), 3.64(0.9, 14.4) and 43(8.6, 216) for 2000, 2005 and 2011 DHS studies respectively. And the AOR for neonates whose mothers with primary education level have 95% CI 3(0.4, 21.6), 2.6(0.6, 11) and 30(6,150) for 2000, 2005 and 2011 DHS studies respectively.
Conclusion: Neonatal mortality decline was significantly higher among newborns of the non-educated mothers.
....................................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library