Piecewise Hazard Modeling for Under-Five Child Mortality

Objective: The application of piecewise hazard model in mortality data becomes more useful over classical survival methods. This method is used to find the number of location of cut points and estimate the hazard model. The piecewise hazard model is fitted on National family health survey (NFHS IV) from different variables like socio demographic, biological and proximate co-factors. Methods: The various methods are used to apply on mortality data. Exponential hazard model, Weibull hazard model and piecewise constant hazard model are illustrated on mortality data. Cox regression analysis is also performed to find the significant role of co-factors. Free R software is used analysis of mortality data. Results: It is found that women's age in years, total children ever born, present breastfeeding, smoking, size of child, delivery by caesarean section, ANC visits, and birth orders are important factors and six month time interval is very crucial for child till completing the five year of the age. Conclusion: Piecewise hazard model is found very important for the under-five child mortality, through the various times cut point. The Piecewise hazard model can be useful for clinicians, researchers and public health experts. Time is very important factor for reducing the child mortality