Spatial Distribution of Childhood Mortality in South Africa

Martin Bangha, University of Pennsylvania

Despite dramatic improvements in mortality in Africa during the twentieth century, childhood mortality remains generally high with wide disparities among and within groups in the population. However, sample size restrictions of the predominantly survey-based studies frequently limit the examination of sub-national geographic disparities. This study examines childhood mortality concentration at local levels of geography in South Africa using data from the 2001 population census. Childhood mortality risk by district is measured by the probability of dying before age 5 and the standardized mortality index which combines child mortality experience of women. Specifically, this paper examines district level differences in childhood mortality. Of the complex routes of geographical area hierarchy maintained by South Africa, one route links provinces to magisterial districts (MDs) and another links provinces to the district municipal councils (DCs). The analyzes are conducted both at the level of 354 MDs and 54 DCs.