DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF UNDER-FIVE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

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This paper examined the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of under-five morbidity and mortality in Gombe State. Child mortality is the probability that a child born in a specific year or period would die before reaching the age of five. Goal 3 of SDG centred on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for children as well as ending preventable deaths of newborns and under-five children by 2030. The objectives of the paper are to: identify the major prevalent under-five diseases; to examine the influence of child’s demographic characteristics on under-five diseases, as well as to examine the influence of child’s mother demographic and socioeconomic determinants on under-five mortality. The paper utilized both quantitative and qualitative data to obtained information from the pool of respondents. Quantitative data such as medical records of under-five children and their mothers were generated while qualitative data was obtained using Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and In-depth interview. A cross sectional Hospital Medical Records of under-five children from 2007- 2016 was utilized. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as tables and charts. Logistic regression was used for inferential statistics. The result showed that malaria fever accounted for 50% of under-five morbidity and mortality. Also, age of the child and mother’s age significantly influenced under-five morbidity and mortality. The result indicates that children that their mothers are younger are more likely to experience under -five mortality compares to more advance mothers. Likewise, educational qualification of mother was found to be significantly associated with under-five mortality. More efforts should be put in place by government at all levels and NGOs on how to curtail malaria fever. These efforts may include the provision of treated mosquito net, effective sensitization of mothers on proper usage of treated mosquito net, provision of dedicated malaria treatment facilities/units, and provision of affordable/subsidized malaria treatment.