Causes and patterns of morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan: Joint estimation of multiple causes in the neonatal period

Abstract

This paper focuses on investigating the leading cause(s) of death and preventable factors in Afghanistan, using data from verbal autopsies of infant deaths. We are of the view that the presence of a disease in a person may increase the risk of another disease that may contribute to the death process. The influence of individual- and community-level variables on infant morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan is examined. The results of this study suggest the existence of multiple causes of death in the Afghanistan Mortality Survey (AMS). In Afghanistan, complications of pregnancy are clearly a problem and must be adequately improved.