Demographic and Economic Determinants of Variations in Infant Mortality in Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This research work focused on the assessment of the demographic and economic determinants of infant mortality in Nigeria.
To achieve the objectives of the study, infant mortality rate (measure of child health outcome) was regressed on government health expenditure, real GDP, inflation, population growth rate and population density in Nigeria.
From the results, the major explanatory variables (public expenditure on health, inflation except RGDP) alongside population growth rate and population density have a significant impact on the infant mortality rate.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page ………………………………………………………………… i
Certification ………………………………………………………………ii
Approval page …………………………………………………………… iii
Dedication ……………………………………………………………….. iv
Acknowledge …………………………………………………………….. v
Table of Contents ……………………………………………………….. vi
Table of Contents ……………………………………………………….. vii
Abstract ………………………………………………………………….. viii
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
1.1 Background Information ……………………………………………. 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem …………………………………………… 7
1.3 Research Questions ………………………………………………….. 10
1.4 Research Objectives …………………………………………………. 10
1.5 Hypothesis of the Study ……………………………………………… 10
1.6 Policy Relevance of the Study ……………………………………….. 10
1.7 Scope of the Study ……………………………………………………. 10
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review
2.1 Conceptual Framework ………………………………………………. 12
2.2 Theoretical Literature ………………………………………………… 12
2.3 Empirical Literature …………………………………………………… 23
2.4 Limitations of Previous Studies ………………………………………. 30
CHAPTER THREE: Methodology
3.1 Theoretical Framework ………………………………………………. 32
3.2 Model Specification ……………………………………………………. 33
3.3 Estimation Procedure …………………………………………………. 34
3.4 Justification of the Model …………………………………………….. 36
3.5 Statistical Criteria …………………………………………………….. 36
3.6 Source of Data and Econometrics Software ………………………… 38
CHAPTER FOUR: Presentation and Analysis of Results
4.1 Trend Properties of the Variables ………………………………….. 40
4.2 Unit Root Test ……………………………………………………….. 42
4.3 Co Integration Test ………………………………………………….. 43
4.4 Normality and Stability Tests ……………………………………….. 45
4.5 Analysis of Results …………………………………………………… 46
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Policy Recommendations and Conclusion
5.1 Summary ……………………………………………………………… 48
5.2 Policy Implication and Recommendation …………………………… 48
5.3 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………. 50
References …………………………………………………………………51
Appendix ………………………………………………………………….. 58
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
The fourth goal and one of the most important issues in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to reduce infant and child mortality by two-thirds from 1990-2015, (UNICEF, 2006).
Infant mortality rate (IMR) is one of the most important sensitive indicators of the economic and health status of a community. This is because more than any other age-group of a population, infants’ survival depends on the economic conditions of their environment (Madise, 2003).
It is one of the components of United Nations human development index (UN, 2007). Hence its description is very vital for evaluation and planning of public health strategies (Park, 2005).
Child mortality rates still remain unacceptably high in sub-Saharan African countries as approximately half of childhood deaths take place in sub-Saharan Africa despite the region having only one fifth of the world’s children population (Smith, 2010). For instance, in sub- Saharan Africa, 1 child in 8 die before age five- nearly 20 times the average of 1 in 167 in developed parts of the world (Ojikutu, 2008).
Similarly, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, it is tragic that one in seven Nigerian children die before his or her fifth birthday (UNICEF, 2000).
A baby born in Nigeria is 30 times more likely to die before age five than one born in an industrialised country (UNICEF, 2001).
Infant and child mortality rates are exceedingly high, and Nigeria ranks 15th highest in the world among countries with high under-five mortality (UNICEF, 2001).
REFERENCES
Adebayo S.B and Fahrmeir L. (2005), Analyzing child mortality in Nigeria with geoadditive discrete-time survival models. Statistics in Medicine 2005; 24:709-728.
Adetunji, J. A. (1995): “Infant Mortality and Mother’s Education in Ondo State, Nigeria”.Social Scienceand Medicine; 40(2):253-263.
Adewuyi, A.A. and B.J. Feyisetan (1988), “Correlates of Infant Mortality: Empirical evidence from Ile-Ife, Nigeria”. Manuscript Report 191e IDRC, Canada.
Akpala C.O. (1993), Perinatal mortality in northern Nigeria rural community. Journal of Royal Society for the Promotion of Health; 113(3): 124-7.
AmartyaSen, (1998), “Mortality as an indicator of Economic Success and failures” The Economics Journal (108) pp: 1-25.