Infant mortality at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital: Application of Aalen additive hazards model and comparison with other classical survival models.

Abstract

Background:  Beyond the effort provided on the population policy in Rwanda so far, extensive studies on factors that could prevent infant mortality (IM) should be done for more controlling the Infant mortality rate (IMR).  This study presents an application of survival analysis to the infant mortality at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (KUTH) in Rwanda.Data and methods: The dataset of the KUTH was recorded.  Aalen Additive Hazard Model (AAHM) is used for assessing the relationship between the IM and covariates. The Cox Proportional Hazard Model (CPHM) and the Cox-Aalen Hazard Model (CAHM) are also applied, the results of these three models are compared.Findings: The AAHM distinguishes time dependent and fixed covariates, and this allows an easy interpretation of the results found in CPHM and CAHM.Conclusion: Avoidance of pregnancy until after age 20 and clinically recommended nutrition for the mother during pregnancy would decrease IM.