Health workers in the West Nile region point to malaria as a significant factor driving the area’s high infant mortality rate.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infant mortality rate as the likelihood of a child born in a specific period dying before reaching one year of age, based on age-specific mortality rates.
The latest Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) report for 2022 highlights the West Nile region with the highest infant mortality rate in the country, at 54.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, in other wards roughly 5.49 infants out of every 100 births do not survive beyond their first year of life in the West Nile region in Uganda.
Close behind are the Ankole and Bunyoro sub-regions, reporting rates of 49.0 and 42.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively.
Dr. Paul Onzubo, Health Officer of Maracha district, emphasizes that the region’s alarming infant mortality rate is mainly due to the high prevalence of malaria, particularly among expectant mothers and children.
Dr. Dominic Lomurecu, acting district health officer for Obongi, identifies poor health-seeking behaviors among expectant mothers and undernutrition stemming from widespread poverty as additional contributing factors.
Malaria remains a significant health challenge in Uganda, constituting 33 percent of Out Patients Department (OPD) visits, 22 percent of hospital admissions, and 11 percent of deaths, as per Ministry of Health data.
The West Nile region ranks second, after Karamojong, with the highest malaria positivity rate at 22 percent according to the 2019 Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey report.
Dr. Sam Okuonzi, a public health physician and researcher specializing in health policy, economics, and financing, emphasizes the need for targeted malaria prevention efforts in the West Nile region, suggesting the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) as a crucial step in addressing the high infant mortality rate.
As of the latest UDHS report for 2022, Uganda’s overall infant mortality rate stands at 36 deaths per 1,000 live births.