Factors influencing under-five mortality in rural- urban Ghana: An applied survival analysis

Objectives: This paper uses a survival analysis technique to examine socio-economic and demographic factors that influence under-five mortality for rural and urban Ghana. Method: The paper employs the Breslow Method for Ties for survival probability and uses data for the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Data on some 5884 children was also generated through the interview of 4086 women aged 15–49. They indicated the birth histories of the children under five years. Results: The study finds the most significant socio-economic determinants of a child survival in Ghana to be maternal age, mother's education, household wealth index quintile, place of delivery and birth order. The influence of these determinants on child survival differ from urban to rural. Conclusion: The survival probabilities of these explanatory variables are different in the rural area from the urban area. Therefore, it is imperative to scale up efforts in the rural area to ensure children live up to age five.