Gender differentials and disease-specific cause of infant mortality: a case study in an urban hospital in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Infant mortality is a major public health problem especially in developing countries. It is an indicator of quality of and accessibility to primary healthcare as well as the overall health status of a country. Understanding the risk factors for infant mortality is the first important step to reducing its incidence/prevalence. This study examined the prevalence and disease-specific causes of infant mortality in an urban hospital in Ghana and gender differences in the burden of infant mortality. Births and deaths data at the hospital were reviewed and analyzed. Results indicated infant mortality of 32/1000 live births and highlighted malaria, severe anemia, and neonatal sepsis as the leading causes of infant deaths. Gender differences in infant mortality was not statistically significant (X2; P-value=0.73). It is critical to strengthen existing malaria control programs for infants and develop targeted interventions to improve infant nutrition for high risk infants. (Afr J Reprod Health 2016; 20[2]: 104-110).

Keywords: Infant, mortality, Ghana, malaria, gender