Infant Mortality Decline In Zambia: To What Extent Did Maternal Education Influence Infant Mortality Rate Decline For The Period 1992 To 2018?

Background: In Zambia, infant mortality has reduced from 107 to 42 per 1000 live births from 1992 to 2018. Across the Globe, it is argued that maternal education contributes to the reduction in infant mortality. However, the extent to which maternal education influenced the decline in infant mortality in Zambia for the period 1992 to 2018 was not clear. Therefore, this study investigated the extent to which maternal education influenced the decline in infant mortality in Zambia from 1992 to 2018. The purpose of this study is to inform policy as well as program planning and implementation in the promotion of infant survival. Methods: : This study was a secondary data analysis (Trend Analysis). Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) data sets: 1992 to 2018 were used in the analyses. The unit of analysis was infant mortality with sample sizes: 6169, 7066, 6526, 6025,12916 and 9959 respectively. All analyses were done using the statistical package for social sciences version 25.0. Univariate analysis was done for descriptive statistics. Chi-square was used for testing associations. Point Bi-serial correction was done between maternal education and infant mortality at 1% and/or 5% levels of significance. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the influence of predictors on infant mortality. Results: : Maternal education was (negatively) related to infant mortality from 1992 to 2001-2. The correlation coefficients were smaller negatives indicating a very weak negative relationship between maternal education and infant mortality. Among the interactions, only the interactions between maternal education and contraceptive use, preceding birth interval, breast feeding, and antenatal care (visits) significantly influenced the decline in infant mortality from 1992 to 2018. Singularly, maternal education influenced the decline in infant mortality rate to a lesser extent (only marginally). When interacted with contraceptive use, preceding birth interval, breast feeding and antenatal care, maternal education influenced the decline in infant mortality to a larger extent. Conclusion: For more robust interventions to further reduce infant mortality in the country, these interactions should be considered in the planning and implementation of child health programs such as the child health nutrition, national partnership for maternal, new-born and child health.