"Variation in Child Mortality across Sub-Saharan Africa: Way Finer than National Rates"

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Abstract

Measuring and monitoring under-five mortality is a global priority and an important indicator of development. Among all the world’s regions, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the highest mortality rates and the largest number of under-five deaths. Under-five mortality is mostly monitored at the level of countries, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where estimates mostly rely on nationally representative surveys. However, learning about child mortality at a granular level can be very informative, so we did that at a 0.1 degree x 0.1 degree resolution. We look at some implications, including the existence and extent of mortality hotspots and the importance of "institutions" in accounting for the variation in mortality.