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335377
Examining infant and child mortality rates in the geopolitical zones of Nigeria: A systematic review with implications for health in all geopolitical policies of Nigeria


Monday, November 2, 2015

Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Kinesiology and Community, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Sarah Blackstone, MPH, Department of Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL
Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana Chamapaign, Champaign, IL
Background: In 2013, 2.8 million newborns died within 28 days of birth. Nigeria accounted for about a tenth. Furthermore, Nigeria accounted for 13% of all under five deaths globally. While previous studies have considered individual-level factors (i.e. maternal education), it remains to be seen the extent to which social determinant factors (i.e. child’s place of residence) interact to influence infant/child mortality levels in Nigeria.

Objective: This study examines the effects of a child's place of residence on infant and child mortality rates in Nigeria.

Method: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Ebsco, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 1990 and January 2015. We included only studies that specifically made reference to any one of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Result: The systematic literature search identified 362 relevant studies, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. 25 studies were hospital based studies while the remainder (n=16) were community based studies. Infant/child mortality was the highest in the Northwest region of Nigeria and lowest in the Southeast region. Among the neonatal mortality patterns, severe birth asphyxia/perinatal asphyxia was the most common cause of early neonatal deaths, while severe malaria constituted the most common cause of death in children aged under-5.

Conclusion: The findings revealed that place of residence is an important determinant of infant/child mortality in Nigeria. Policies directed at reducing infant/child mortality rates should look beyond individual-level factors to consider regional variations when planning interventions to improve infant and child survival rates in Nigeria.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Assess the effects of a child's place of residence on infant and child mortality rates in Nigeria. In addition, to discussing the importance of formulating policies that look young individual factors in tackling child mortality in Nigeria, and also consider the regional variations that might impact the situation.

Keyword(s): Child Health, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am community health masters student with interest and concentration on global health and child and maternal health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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