Factors affecting child mortality in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To estimate levels and trends, gender differentials, effect of modes of living, regional differentials, and the effect of parental educational on infant and child mortality.

METHODS: A nationwide stratified random sample was used to estimate levels, trends and differentials of infant and child mortality in Saudi Arabia. The study was executed during the period February 2006 to June 2006 and covered all the 20 health regions of Saudi Arabia. The randomly selected sample was limited to ever married Saudi women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years).

RESULTS: The findings show a continuous and considerable infant and child mortality decline during the 1994-2004 period. The infant mortality rate has decline from 22 per 1000 live births in 1994 to 17 per 1000 live births in 2004; while the child mortality rate has declined from 34 to 22 per 1000 live births in the same period. There is a strong relation between infant and child mortality and the mode of living and parental education.

CONCLUSION: The study proves the continuous decline of infant and child mortality during the study period and affirms the effect of parental education on these indicators.