Infant mortality and risk factors in Nigeria in 2013-2017: A population-level study

Damilola M Shobiye; Ayomide Omotola; Yueming Zhao; Jianrong Zhang; Fitriana M Ekawati; Hezekiah O Shobiye

doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101622

Infant mortality and risk factors in Nigeria in 2013-2017: A population-level study

EClinicalMedicine. 2022 Aug 25:51:101622. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101622. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Authors

Damilola M Shobiye¹, Ayomide Omotola², Yueming Zhao³, Jianrong Zhang⁴, Fitriana M Ekawati⁵, Hezekiah O Shobiye⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
² Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
³ Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
⁴ Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Department of Family and Community Medicine Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia.
⁶ John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Background: Globally, over the past two decades, many countries have significantly reduced the rate of infant mortality. Yet, in Africa, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest infant mortality rate (IMR).

Methods: We conducted a population-level study using the 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS). A total of 41,668 household data were analyzed retrospectively. The association between each exposure and infant mortality was analyzed in logistic regression models (independently adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic status variables) and confirmed by the multiple comparisons analysis.

Findings: The overall IMR of 2013-2017 was 61.5 (95% CI 58.0, 65.3) per 1000 live births. In general, the North-West and North-East regions had the highest IMR, whereas the South-West, South-East and South-South regions had the lowest IMR. The regression analysis found women who delivered their babies at the age <=18 years old (odds ratio (OR): 1.37 [1.17, 1.62]), had religion of Islam (OR: 1.35 [1.10, 1.65]), no ANC visit (OR: 1.69 [1.21, 2.35]), >4 ANC visits (OR: 1.70 [1.23, 2.34]), ANC not at home or skilled provider (0.40 [0.35, 0.46]) and the babies as the first child (OR: 1.23 [1.07, 1.42]) to be associated with higher IMR.

Interpretation: Our findings imply that Nigeria is not on track to achieving the SDG target of reducing child mortality by 2030. Sustainable interventions are urgently needed to address the challenges for women of reproductive age, particularly those that are living in the rural areas and Northern regions, having limited/no access to health care/skilled providers, and delivered their first child.

Funding: None.

Keywords: Antenatal Care (ANC); Demographic Health Survey (DHS); Infant mortality (IM); Infant mortality rate (IMR); Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS); United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF); World Health Organization (WHO).