ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the factors that account for childhood mortality variation in Swaziland, and utilizes the multivariate analysis technique. It also utilizes the analytic framework developed by A. Jain and L. Visaria to explain the mechanisms through which various determinants operate to affect childhood mortality. The framework distinguishes between variables that affect mortality at three levels: community, household and individual. Since malnutrition contributes significantly to childhood mortality in developing countries, nutrition status of the child should be recognized as an important proximate determinant. Child feeding practices, which include the length of breast-feeding and the age at breastmilk supplementation, are important determinants of childhood mortality. A multivariate approach is utilized to ascertain the relative contribution of each independent variable in accounting for mortality variation among individuals. The variables that measure the extent to which modern health services are utilized both have a negative relationship with childhood mortality.
