Determinants of Time to Early Wean among Under Two years Children in Ethiopia; Application of Survival Models on EDHS 2016

Abstract

Bac;ground;Breast-feeding is a serious problem and yet it has more consequences for survival, health, productivity and intergenerational wellbeing in sub-Saharan country including Ethiopia. According to United National Development Program (UNDP) 2011 report 48% infants were not exclusive breast-fed in Ethiopia for the first six months age. In many countries including Ethiopia, exclusive breast feeding (EBF) practice is lower than the international recommendation. Thus, this study dealt with duration of breast-fed in Ethiopia based EDHS 2016 secondary data. Objectives of the Study;The main objective of the study is to investigate the factors that shorten duration of Ethiopian children breast-fed and access duration of breast-fed variation across the regions by applying semi parametric shared frailty model on EHDS 2016. Methodology; The data used for this study was the secondary data of the fourth Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) of 2016 conducted by central statistical agency (CSA). The dependent variable of the study was the age in months at which children drop breast-fed. Semi parametric univariable frailty and multivariable shared semi parametric models analysis were applied in this study. When we use frailty models, θ is estimated to get an idea on heterogeneity/variation in the outcome between regions in this study. Expectation Maximization algorism (EM algorism) and penalized partial likelihood (PPL) parameter estimation technique were applied in this thesis. Result and discussion; According to EDHS 2016Infants from Tigray and Amhara experienced more time breast-fed 92.34% and 92.26% respectively and Infants from Somali region experienced the least breast-fed duration which was 71.93% with 11 medians.Mothers age group, mothers work status, mothers visited by health worker in the 12 months and mothers visit were highly significant factors for early weaning time at α=0.05 level of significance. Conclusions;Maternal age were highly significant factor for early weaning time in Ethiopia; the government have to establish law for appropriate age for marriage probably beyond 25 years old. On the other hand pattern of contraceptive use was another significant factor for early weaning time; it recommended creating awareness in the community to expand using it (birth interval).