Factors associated with mortality from 5 to 14 years of age according to geographically weighted regression

Mortality data for the 5 to 14 age group is scarce and often of low quality, despite most of these deaths being preventable. Social determinants of health offer an alternative perspective to understand the context of these deaths. An analytical ecological study using geographically weighted regression was conducted to identify the association between social determinants and deaths among 5 to 14-year-olds in Mato Grosso from 2009 to 2020. The model included variables related to demographic, geopolitical, environmental factors, living conditions, and access to health services. The model effectively explained mortality patterns in both age groups. For 5 to 9-year-olds, deaths were influenced by demographic, environmental, geopolitical, and health services factors, while for 10 to 14-year-olds, demographic, environmental factors, and living conditions played a larger role. The models were similar but showed varying variable compositions and behaviors depending on location and age group. The strongest associations for ages 5 to 9 were concentrated in the northeast and southeast regions, characterized by major grain production and state/international borders. For ages 10 to 14, associations were more heterogeneous.