Abstract
The paper examines the under-five mortality in Nigeria with regards to the perception and attitudes of the Ikwerres about the existence of ‘Ogba-nje’ (children from the spirit world) and the mode of treatment given to such children. The study elicited information from 1695 women of reproductive age in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor LGAs of Rivers State South-South, Nigeria. The study shows that (i) more than half of the respondents believe in the existence of Ogba-nje children; (ii) that Ogba-nje children can be identified from the evidence of past death, frequent indisposition, non-responsiveness of their illness to moderate medical care as well as repeated death and verification from traditional healers; that causes of illness differ between Ogba-nje and non Ogba-nje children; (iv) close to 71 percent of the respondents have faith in traditional methods of treatment for Ogba-nje children. The study, therefore, reiterate the need to integrate the people;s beliefs, attitudes and behavioural practices into health promotion progammes. Keywords: Under-five mortality, Perception, Attitudes and “Ogba-nje”.
Highlights
Infant and child mortality remains disturbingly high in developing countries despite the significant decline in most parts of the developed world
According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) (2010), infant mortality and under five mortality rates for the ten years period preceding the survey for the South-South part of Nigeria, the focus of this study, are 70 per 1,000 and 102 per 1,000 live birth respectively (NPC, 2010)
It was found out from the study that quite a lot of people do not have clear perception of illness and treatment while some attached the death of under-five children to Ogba-nje spirit
Summary
Infant and child mortality remains disturbingly high in developing countries despite the significant decline in most parts of the developed world. It is discernible from the table that (i) a clear pattern of association does not emerge between age of mother and their believe in similar treatment for ogba-nje and non ogba-nje children; (ii) education is positively correlated with the belief in similar treatment for the two groups of children; (iii) the fact that less than half of women with secondary (or higher) education hold this belief is, a source of concern; (iv) Catholic and Protestant Christian mothers are least likely to believe in similar treatment for the two groups of children; (v) rural dwellers are more to proffer similar treatment for the two groups of children This pattern of differential by place of residence is unexpected because mothers in the urban areas, who are not more exposed to Western ideas and, have higher concentration of modern health facilities, are expected to have more rational attitude than the rural dwellers. Current age 15 – 19 30 – 39 40+ Education None Primary Secondary and higher Religion Catholic Protestant Other Christians Islam Others Place of residence Urban Rural Residence before age 12 Village Town City Number
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