FACTORS INFLUENCING INFANT MORTALITY AT JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA TEACHING AND REFFERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Infant mortality is the death of a baby that occurs between the time it is born and 1 year of age. The study will be important in understanding populations health and development and also inform policy and resource allocation decisions. The study examined to investigate the influence of socioeconomic, maternal and facility factors on infant mortality at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. This study adopted mixed method approach of data collection both quantitative and qualitative. Desk review study design was used to assess the infant mortality. Purposive sampling technique was used and Sample size was determined using Census to all mothers aged 18 to 49 who lost their children. Data was collected using checklist questionnaires and with quantitative analysis done using SPSS version 29. Studies on infant mortality can help identify causes and contributors to infant mortality which can lead to changes in interventions, programs and policies. The study found that socioeconomic factors such as work status, wealth quantile and maternal factors such as age of the mother at birth and birth order interval significantly influenced infant mortality. Facility factors such as delay in health seeking, neonatal resuscitation and health policy negatively impact infant mortality. Multifaceted interventions targeting socioeconomic, maternal and health factors are needed to improve infant mortality in study setting.