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Maternal Age at Birth and under-5 Mortality in Nigeria

Titilayo , Ayotunde and Obiyan, Mary and Agunbiade, Ojo and Fasina, Fagbeminiyi (2009) Maternal Age at Birth and under-5 Mortality in Nigeria. East African Journal of Public Health, 6 (1). pp. 11-14. ISSN ISSN: 0856-8960

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Abstract

The paper examined the impact of maternal age at birth on under-5 death in Nigeria. Secondary data were generated from the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys in examining the relationship between maternal age at birth and under-5 mortality risk. Relationships between variables were tested through bivariate and logistic analyses. Out of 7620 sampled women for the study, almost 60% were less than 30 years old, the median age was 26 years- a youthful population. Analyses of the data revealed a high under-5 mortality rate (45.4%), a general high home delivery (62.4%) among Nigerian women, which dictates a low rate at which assistance by health professional is being sought during childbirth. Furthermore, mothers' median age at first birth was less than 19, while under-5 death was significantly pronounced among younger (less than 20 years) mothers and older women (above 35 years) (p<0.05). Maternal education which was significantly low among younger mothers was a predictor of under-5 mortality. Under -5 mortality is still high especially among younger mothers. Thus resolving this challenge in Nigeria will be inadequate if early childbearing issues are not addressed using a tailored framework alongside with the need to improve maternal education in Nigeria.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User: Mr Fagbeminiyi Fasina
Date Deposited: 21 Mar 2015 19:58
Last Modified: 21 Mar 2015 19:58
URI: http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/4125

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