The impact of parents’ socio-economic status on child mortality in Uganda; Case study: Nebbi town council

Abstract

This research paper determined the impacts of parent‟s socio economic status on child mortality with a case study of Nebbi Town Council. Socio economic status was looked at in terms of level of income, level of education and access to health care service. The study was based on a view that pointed to child mortality becoming rampant in poor countries than in wealthier countries. The study used primary data and was conducted through a cross – sectional survey design using questionnaires administered to 60 respondents purposively selected from households with children aged 1 to 5 years in the different parishes in Nebbi Town Council, analysed using qualitative and quantitative techniques and presented in tables and figures. The variables in this research were level of income, level of education and access to healthcare services. Data findings were drawn to show the extent to which the research variables affected child mortality. From the findings, all the three variables had significant impacts on child mortality. For instance parents‟ education level greatly contributed to child mortality in that parents who had higher education levels stood higher chances of their children surviving in their child hood. More so, the research proved that all respondents who had a long stretch of distance from their homes to health centers had ever lost their children. Based on the study, the researcher discovered there is need to device methods to improve on parents‟ level of income such as job creation, provision of capital and introducing entrepreneurial trainings. The researcher recommends that the government should implement programs like adult education in which parents especially the mothers can enroll to achieve higher education hence increasing on knowledge relevant to raising their children. The researcher also recommends that health care services should be made accessible by providing more ambulances, decentralizing health centers, and trained medical personnel should be posted to all health centers.