Determinants of Infant Mortality in Indonesia

Reduction of under-five mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 is a Millennium Development Goal (MDG). Indonesia has been on track in achieving the MDG target on under-five mortality. However, slower progress on infant mortality reduction shows that more attention should be given in order to improve the survival of younger children. Motivated by this situation, this study attempts to identify determinants of infant mortality in Indonesia between 1997 and 2012 using the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds of the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) data. In addition, the study aims to identify externalities which may be generated by investments in mother’s education, water and sanitation, and child vaccination by a household’s neighbors. The conceptual framework is based on Mosley and Chen (1984). Logistic regressions are used to estimate the effect of a variety of factors on infant mortality. The regression results shows that bio-demographic factors which include child and maternal traits are key predictors of infant mortality in Indonesia. Male sex, birth multiplicity, higher birth rank, shorter birth interval, mother age above 35 years, and complication during pregnancy are positively related to infant mortality. Behavioral practices such as institutional delivery, knowledge of Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), and especially contraceptive practice are also important factors that negatively related to infant mortality. Moreover, household’s hygiene characteristics such as safe drinking water source, private toilet, and improved flooring materials are also important factors that increase infant survival status in Indonesia. Some socio economic variables are also found to be significant determinants of infant mortality in Indonesia. Among the various factors, the number of household members is the strongest factors related to infant mortality. At the community level, Sumatra and Kalimantan regions in 2012 have lower odds of infant mortality, whereas Sulawesi region in 2007 has higher odds of infant mortality as compare to Java and Bali. Furthermore, the study finds that immunization participation in the community has a positive spillover effect on infant survival status.