Survival Analysis of Birth Defect Infants and Children with Pneumonia Mortality in Ghana

Despite the global decline in infant and child mortality rate, Ghana has failed to record any substantial improvement. In this study, we investigated the effects of some selected risk factors on infant and child survival in Ghana. This study used data from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. 295 infants and children were followed up and time to first occurrence of death was recorded for each infant and child. The life table and Kaplan-Meier methods and the Cox proportional model were used for statistical analyses. The log-rank test statistic was used to test for difference in the survival curves. The results showed that the risk of death among those with birth defects or pneumonia was relatively higher and there is statistically significant difference in the risk of dying between infants with birth defects and those with no birth defects. Also, there is statistically significant difference in the risk of death between children with pneumonia and those with no pneumonia. Our analyses showed that birth defects, preterm birth, accidents, and pregnancy complications are significant risk factors of infant survival. Also, pneumonia, preterm birth, accidents, and diarrhoea are significant risk factors of child survival. Maternal care services should be made available and accessible and mothers should be educated on the importance of maternal care services utilization in order to reduce or mitigate the risk of infant and child mortality. Also, initiating the immunization activities with PCV-13 and Rota-Virus Vaccines, which will reduce Pneumonia and diarrhoea and will improve survival of infants and children under five, should be encouraged or implemented.