Disparities in Under-Five Mortality Estimates From Demographic Surveillance and Retrospective Birth Histories

Hallie Eilerts , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Georges Reniers, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

In the region with the highest rates of infant and child mortality in the world, sub-Saharan Africa, civil registration is either incomplete or non-existent. In the absence of civil registries, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) provide valuable insights on population health. Understanding the systematic differences between HDSS and DHS mortality estimates could expand the usefulness of both sources and contribute to a better understanding of under-five mortality patterns in sub-Saharan Africa. HDSS estimates for infant (1q0) and child (4q1) mortality are typically below DHS measurements for the corresponding region. The difference is greater for infant mortality. HDSS population size, HDSS census interval, and regional malaria endemicity are associated with the magnitude of the differences between HDSS and DHS.

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 Presented in Session 11. Health & Mortality 2