Does ecological zone matter for childhood mortality differentials in Nepal?

Based on its topographical, climatic factors and biomes Nepal is divided into three ecological zones [Mountain, Hill and Tarai]. Does the variation in ecology have direct influence on health of Children.To address this question, the present study used the recent Nepal DHS-2011 survey data. The results revealed that disadvantageous position of the mountain region in terms of child survival is consistently established through all three methodological exercises carried out in this study. Bivariate results revealed that across the three ecological zones, the Mountain zone experiences considerably higher childhood mortality rates. Cox proportional hazard model estimates also revealed that relative risk of dying for all groups of children in Mountain Ecological zone is greater compared to Hill and Tarai. Oaxaca decomposition results show that the variables considered can explain only 46 percent variation of mountain and hill differences in mortality it means there could be some direct environmental factors which are playing role in differential mortality, Variations are explained by some important demographic factors such as less than 20 months birth interval of women, work status of the mother, mother’s education, poor economic status etc.,