Socio-economic determinants of mortality among children aged 0–10 years in Béré, Chad

Child mortality is a key indicator of child health worldwide. Chad has one of the highest African child mortality rates. The absence of updated and accurate health records in rural Chadian regions such as Béré, due to decades of armed conflicts and deficient administrative infrastructure, hinders the development of customized health interventions by non-governmental entities such as Project 21, a community health program in Béré. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the sociodemographic context and mortality of children in Béré. We report on a cross-sectional study completed by trained community health workers using a survey questionnaire targeting sociodemographic factors, child mortality, and sources of health advice, all known determinants of child health. Descriptive, linear regression and odds ratio analyses were performed on data collected from 517 respondents. Most household heads are Nangtchéré Christian male farmers aged 30–59 years old, with primary or secondary level education. Infant mortality rate and risk are the highest. Child mortality is predicted by household children number (B = 0.876; r = 0.44; p < .001). Child mortality risk is affected by child age and gender, household location, family structure and reception of traditional birth assistants (TBAs) health advice. Infant mortality risk is the worst in Béré-Mouraye [OR = 5.073 (1.047–24.57)] for males. Receiving health advice from TBAs reduces female infant mortality risk [OR = 0.255 (0.065–0.997)]. These findings confirm a role for sociodemographic factors in child mortality in Béré and provide baseline data to plan future health interventions. Chad has been listed as one of the poorest countries globally and has some of the worst health indicators, including neonatal, infant, and child mortality rates, which are among the highest rates globally. The most elevated rates of child mortality are found in the Southern region of Chad, which includes the rural city of Béré. However, risk factors for child mortality in Béré have not been studied and reported. This study is the first to report information on the sociodemographic determinants of the population in Béré, their characteristics in each quartier, and their connection to child mortality.