Important Risk Factors of Mortality Among Children Aged 1-59 Months in Rural Areas of Shahroud, Iran: A Community-based Nested Case-Control Study

Background: the aim of the study was to evaluate potential riskfactors of children mortality between 1?59 months of age.methods: this nested case-control study was conducted amongchildren born from june 1999 to march 2009 in rural areas ofshahroud, located in the central region of iran using health care visitreports and follow?up data available in household health records.results: mortality was significantly associated with breastfeedingduration (or: 0.87, 95% ci: 0.81?0.93), total health care visits (or:0.90, 95% ci: 0.83?0.98) and low birth weight (lbw) (or: 7.38,95% ci: 1.37-39.67).conclusion: in our study, a longer breastfeeding period andmore frequent health care visits were two important protectivefactors, while lbw was an important risk factor for 1?59 monthchild mortality. it seems, that complex and multiple factors may beinvolved in mortality of under 5?year?old children, so combinedefforts would be necessary to improve child health indicators.