Exploring the influencing factors for infant mortality: a mixed-method study of 24 developing countries based on demographic and health survey data

Background
Infant mortality is a salient indicator for appraising the quality of the healthcare infrastructures of a country. To achieve the sustainable development goal, the infant mortality rate should be reduced to the indicated level. On account of this, it is requisite to point out the associated factors of infant mortality and provide action plans for monitoring them.

Objectives
This study aimed to discover the prevalence of infant mortality and assess how different factors influence infant mortality in 24 developing countries by utilising the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data.

Material and methods
This study used a mixed-method design to assemble cross-sectional studies to integrate data from 24 other countries due to the widening perspective of infant mortality. Descriptive analysis, binary logistic regression model, random-effect meta-analysis and forest plot have been used for the analyses.

Results
The binary logistic regression model for Bangladesh revealed that a higher education level of fathers (OR: 0.344, 95% CI: 0.147; 0.807), being 2nd born or above order infant (OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.248; 0.527), undergoing antenatal care (ANC) (OR: 0.271, 95% CI: 0.192; 0.382 for 1–4 visits) and undergoing postnatal care (PNC) (OR: 0.303, 95% CI: 0.216; 0.425) were statistically significant determinants of lowering infant death. While carrying multiple foetuses (OR: 6.634, 95% CI: 3.247; 13.555) was shown to be a risk factor of infant mortality. The most significant factors influencing infant mortality for developing countries were the number of foetuses (OR: 0.193, 95% CI: 0.176; 0.213), undergoing ANC (OR: 0.356, 95% CI: 0.311; 0.407), undergoing PNC (OR: 0.302, 95% CI: 0.243; 0.375) and the size of the children (OR: 0.653, 95% CI: 0.588; 0.726).

Conclusions
In this study, the number of the foetuses, undergoing ANC and PNC, mother’s education, fathers’ education and size of the children were the most significant factors affecting infant mortality in developing countries. Thusly, anticipation and control projects need to be taken considering the outcome of this study to reduce the infant mortality.