Factors Influencing Infant Deaths In A Tribal Area Of South Gujarat
Factors Influencing Infant Deaths
Keywords:
Infant deaths, Environmental factors, vaccinationAbstract
Backgroud: : Background & objectives: With decrease in infant mortality rate, it becomes important to find out various types of determinants and their interplay leading to the infant deaths. This study was carried out with objective of finding out prevalence of environmental factors, factors influencing nutritional status and vaccination among infant deaths in a tribal block of south Gujarat. Methods: The study incorporated all the infant deaths, which occurred during selected one year period in all 51 villages of 3 selected Primary Health Centres. Data collection was done through house to house visits in the study area and analyzed with Epi Info 6.04 version software. Results: Out of total 48 infant deaths, in 81.3 % cases type of house was Kutcha and adequate ventilation was only in 16.7 % cases. Environment and sanitation was overall poor in majority of cases. Overcrowding was present in 87.5% cases. 27.1% mothers were enrolled in Anganwadi and half of them received food supplementation. Only 37.5 percent were fully vaccinated for age. Interpretation & conclusion: Awareness regarding importance of environmental and other factors in preventing infant deaths should be raised through health education programmes. Anganwadi workers should be sensitized regarding their work.
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