SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN INFANT AND CHILD MORTALITY LEVELS IN SIERRA LEONE
Population studies
2
Issue: 1
(04 - 1989)
The general research objectives of this project
were to calculate and map levels of infant, child and
adult mortality in the administrative districts of
Sierra Leone using 1974 census data, followed by a
correlational analysis of these levels with certain key
social variables. These were the distribution of medical
facilities, the distribution of the population with no
formal schooling and malaria endemicity by district.
The results showed an estimated infant mortality rate of
215 in 1971 for Sierra Leone. The proportion of children
dying before their fifth birthday was pegged at -3582
also for 1971- In relation to other African Countries,
Sierra Leone was in the category of countries with very
high infant and child mortality levels.
Infant and child mortality levels in the administrative
areas of Sierra Leone were in general very high but in
addition showed some differences in levels. Only the
Western Area had an infant mortality rate below 160 in
1971. The highest infant mortality rate was in Pujehun
District (272). The pattern is the same when one
examines the proportion of children dying before their
fifth birthday, with the Western Area having the lowest
(.2630) and Pujehun District having the highest (.4431).
Attempts at explaining the regional variation in
mortality levels by the distribution of health facilities, the percentage of the population with no formal
schooling and malaria endemicity failed to provide any
significant results once the Western Area was excluded
from the analysis.
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