Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Under-Five Mortality in Adamawa State of Nigeria

Abstract

Background The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) identifies that children are at a greater risk of dying before age five if they are born in rural areas, among the poor, or to mothers who have no basic education. This study aimed to examine the influence of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of women of child bearing age on the survival of their under- five years children. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study employed the use of quantitative data derived from primary sources. The study participants were selected from communities in three Local Government Areas of Adamawa State using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The demographic and socioeconomic variables analyzed include age, Level of education, marital status, occupation, average monthly income, ethnicity, religion, living with spouse/partner. Chi square test of significance was used to analyze the categorical data, while logistic regression was used to determine the variables that were the most predictive of under five mortality. Results Four hundred and thirty- eight mothers aged between 15 and 49 years (mean 30.8 +/- 9) consented and completed the interviews in the different communities studied. One hundred and seventy two (39.3%) of the mothers had experienced the death of at least one child before the attainment of five years. The bivariate analysis of the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the mothers depicts a statistically significant relationship between mothers’ education, mother monthly income, ethnicity, religion, marital statusas well as occupation of partner and under-five child mortality. Age of mothers and Occupation had no statistical significant relationship with under-five child mortality. The, low educational status, widowed and divorcees, who had no other source of income than housewifery were significantly more likely to have an under-five mortality compared to their counterparts (p-value <0.05). On multinomial logistic regression beta coefficient, of all the variables, religion was the onlysignificant causing under 5 mortality. Conclusion Despite concerted efforts by several international organizations to reduce under-five mortality worldwide, there remains unacceptably high numbers of children dying before reaching the age of five years in Adamawa State, Nigeria.Low educational status, low income, maternal unemployment, divorce and widowed status were noted to be important predictors of a woman experiencing the death of her under-five children. The continued practice of girl child marriage, high divorce rate and the paralysis of economic activities by the insurgency in the Northeast, Nigeria may be indirectly sustaining the high under five mortality in Adamawa State. Recommendations Government should step up efforts in improving girl child education, provide better maternal and child health services and combat the insurgency in order to reduce child mortality in Adamawa state