Infant mortality and under five children mortality ratio in the last few years has been in stagnant level about 50 per 1000. Underlying factors influencing that are; socio economic and culture, and also proximate factors are; age, and number of children. This research was carried out in 2004 in Mimika District PT Freeport Indonesia project area to indigenous people namely Amungme and Kamoro tribes who lived in the new settlements. Collecting data was conducted quantitatively and qualitatively. There were 204 samples of post delivery mothers. It is found that almost 20% respondents ' children died (no identified of age when they died), number of Kamoros' children died more than Amungmes '. Characteristic factors influencing children died such as; mother's age, deliveries frequency and houses status. Cultural factors might influenced children died such as early aged of marriage, mothers' activities and responsibilities in collecting food to the jungle, river, beach caused no one took care of children, many food taboos (high protein) and every child died often be interpreted as believed of mothers' fault during or before pregnancy.

Keywords: Karakteristik, perilaku, budaya, kematian anak, ibu Papua