Effects of Immunisation on Child Mortality in West Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of immunisation coverage on child mortality in 15 West African countries and panel data was sourced from the World Development Indicators for period 2000–2019, with a particular interest in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) initiative. The fixed effects and random effects analysis was used for estimation. The results show that immunisation coverage for Hepatitis B did not significantly impact child mortality before the GVAP initiative, but was significant during the post-GV AP era in reducing child mortality; maternal literacy and improved water source are significant factors in reducing child mortality. The results suggest that improvements in immunisation coverage have not translated to significant reductions in child mortality in West Africa. This could be due to the inefficient impact of the GVAP initiative in West Africa. The study recommends that governments in West Africa could focus on strengthening the impact of the GVAP initiative by ensuring an enabling environment for the initiative through its African Regional Immunisation Strategic Plan to carry out its objectives and programmes that promote awareness for mothers could be implemented by governments within this region with the aim of achieving a reduction in under-five deaths.