Childhood mortality rates are important summary indicators of social
development, quality of life, overall health, maternal health and welfare.
Childhood deaths are mainly caused by preventable and communicable diseases
and poor coverage of health, especially in the case of underdeveloped countries.
This implies the socioeconomic nature of the issue besides its intrinsic health
nature. This study identifies the socioeconomic factors causing childhood
mortality in Ethiopia based on the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
conducted in 2005. Identifying the important factors will help in policy
formulation and intervention designing, should the country meet reduction of the
infant and child mortality rates to the one set by the Millennium Development
Goals. This study employs a probit model to identify these socioeconomic factors
and finds maternal education, maternal age at first birth, age of the child and size
of the household to significantly and negatively affect child mortality. On the
other hand, twin births and male children are found to have a higher relative
chance of dying before seeing their fifth birthday. Based on the findings, the study
suggests some recommendation for designing intervention and policy
formulations.