EXPLORING THE SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING INFANT MORTALITY IN PESHAWAR

Abstract

Infant health care services are vital in reducing infant mortality. High infant mortality has been associated to many sociocultural factors including poverty, women subordination, and lack of access to health care and cultural practices. The present study investigated social factors affecting Infant Mortality in District Peshawar. The study was conducted in four different hospitals of Peshawar Pakistan including Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Johar-Khatoon Hospital and Kalsoom Maternity Home. Primary data was collected from a total sample size of 349 respondents selected through proportional allocation method. The study was quantitative in nature and simple random technique was used to select samples from the total population. A conceptual framework consists of independent variables i.e. social factors and a dependent variable i.e. infant mortality was cross tabulated through the application of Chi Square test statistics to ascertain association between the dependent and independent variables. The study revealed a significant association (P≤0.05) of child mortality with the statements such as marriage at early age, anaemia during pregnancy, access to doctor, availing antenatal care services, delivery attended by mid wife at home, birth spacing between children was less than two years, baby born was premature, and fed the baby with formula milk. The government should implement such polices pertaining to early marriages, making vaccination compulsory for every child and provision of health surety through Sehat Insaf card; with collaboration of societal awareness through different seminars, print and social media is the order of the day were put forwarded some of the recommendations in the light of present study.