Page 66 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Early marriage and infant mortality in SSA

Zimbabwe (18+), 44.4 15-17, 50.0 <15years, 5.7
Zambia 45.6 43.6
Uganda 46.6 43.4
Tanzania 43.0 49.1
Sierra-L 38.4 44.7
Rwanda 81.2 17.9
Nigeria 28.0 45.4
Niger 11.8 55.6
Namibia 56.8 33.9
Mozambiq 24.6 53.1
Mali 24.9 50.5
Malawi 47.9 44.0
Liberia 31.1 56.4
Lesotho 60.7 35.6
Kenya 56.0 36.4
Guinea 21.2 51.1
Ghana 42.5 44.8
Garbon 52.5 34.0
Cote D'I 34.5 46.9
Cosmoros 34.6 47.8
Congo DR 36.6 47.3
Congo 45.9 41.4
Chad 17.0 46.8
Cameroon 33.7 42.4
Burundi 65.1 31.2
Burkina 29.9 55.4
Benin 51.6 34.5
Angola 37.4 43.0
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0
Figure 3. Age at first marriage by selected countries

residence. For instance, children born in Burkina Faso (HR: The previous studies have primarily established
1.79, CI: 1.00 – 3.22, p < 0.05), Guinea (HR: 2.21, CI: 1.09 variances in child mortality between high- and
– 4.48, p < 0.05), and Sierra-Leone (HR: 2.93, CI: 1.43 – low/middle-income countries (Adedini & Akinyemi, 2022;
5.83, p < 0.01) confronted significantly higher risks of dying UNICEF et al., 2020a). However, our analysis established
during infancy than children born in Nigeria. substantial intra- and inter-regional variations in infant
mortality across SSA. The intra-regional pattern divulged
4. Discussion that among the selected countries, Ghana, a West African
country, reported the lowest infant mortality rate (per
This study evidenced the influence of child marriage
on infant mortality (while controlling for women’s 1,000 live births), whereas Guinea, another West African
country, registered the highest infant mortality rate. The
empowerment) in countries in SSA where it is still previous studies have advocated for (Adedini & Akinyemi,
commonplace for girls to be married before the age of 18. 2022; Macassa et al., 2011) context-specific programs and
The study represents one of the few scholarly investigations interventions to address the high burden of childhood
conducted on this subject and is valuable given the deaths in countries exhibiting high incidences of infant
prevalence of child marriage and the huge burden of child mortality. Such actions are essential given the immense
death observed in many parts of SSA (Adedini et al., 2022; intra- and inter-regional variations in infant mortality in
Adedini & Akinyemi, 2022; Simmons et al., 2021; UNICEF SSA. Such efforts will accelerate the global progression
et al., 2019). The findings of this study could aid policy toward achieving target 3.2 of the SDGs. Our study also
framing and guide future actions toward improving child found that approximately half the total infant mortality in
health outcomes in SSA. all 28 countries occurred during the neonatal period. This

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 60 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2411