A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF NEONATAL INFANT AND UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY

In this study, an attempt has been made to examine the trends, pattern and determinate factors of childhood mortality(neonatal, infant and under-five mortality) in Nigeria using data obtained from Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) for 2008 and 2013.The study utilized both Logistic regression and time series models to analyze the data set using SPSS software with a view to ascertaining if the country would be able to achieve the set target for childhood mortality as contained in the relevant session of the Sustainable Development Goal by 2030. Results obtained from our findings suggests that the country experienced a reduction in neonatal, infant and child mortalities across both years of survey but the reduction over the years, though significant relative to previous mortality rates, might not be enough to achieve the set goal of 12 deaths per 1000 live births for neonates, 18 deaths per 1000 live births for infant and 25 deaths per 1000 live births for children less than five years of age between now and 2030 if the current annual rate of reduction(ARR) of 2.31% is maintained. Findings from this study showed that there was a positive correlation between childhood deaths and maternal characteristics such as mother’s age, educational level and place of residence. The Mortality rate across both survey years for neonatal, infant and under-five mortalities was consistently higher for mothers of 117 younger age than they were for mothers who were slightly older. This could be as a result of naivety in child rearing, physical immaturity or perhaps complication during pregnancy that is usually characteristic of teenage and adolescent mothers. The position of this study on the significant relationship that existed between mother’s educational level and place of residence with constant increase and/or decrease in mortality rate is corroborated by other studies. Educated mothers are more likely to make informed and better decisions regarding the health of their children than their less educated counterparts.