1.1 Introduction
Child and maternal mortality rates are critical indicators of a nation's healthcare system and overall well-being. Despite significant progress in healthcare advancements, these rates continue to be a cause of concern globally. Understanding the underlying causes behind these tragic occurrences is paramount for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities alike. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days after delivery, while child mortality encompasses deaths of children under the age of five. These statistics not only reflect the accessibility and quality of healthcare services but also shed light on broader socio-economic factors such as poverty, education, and gender equality (World Health Organization, 2022).
This chapter will address the background information that motivated this study, the challenges that prompted it, its aim, and its objectives as a preface to subsequent sections of the study. Additional factors include the study's significance, scope, limitations, research questions and hypotheses, and the definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Child and maternal mortality rates remain significant public health challenges worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite advancements in medical science and healthcare delivery, millions of children and women die each year due to preventable causes related to pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy. The absence of all signs of life at any point after birth is what the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) defines as mortality, or death. Thus, mortality can be defined as the annual chance of dying, expressed as a death rate. Nonetheless, childhood mortality is the type of death that frequently causes concern among the deceased. This is because there is a health risk associated with this population group. As to the World Health Organization, the rate of child mortality serves as a crucial indicator of a nation's socio-economic progress and the well-being of its women population.
Reducing child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2030 is one of the key goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (UNICEF, 2006), and a key measure of achieving this goal is the infant mortality rate. Demographers use several measures of childhood mortality in health surveys: neonatal mortality, which is the likelihood of dying in the first month of life; infant mortality, which is the likelihood of dying before turning one year old; and post natal mortality, which is the sum of the mortality rates of newborns and neonates. However, the study's main focus is infant mortality.
Numerous infants perish in the universe for various reasons. The precise causes of the numerous newborn fatalities that occur every hour might not be known if these causes of death are not observed, acknowledged, and given the necessary attention. Using statistical approaches to extract information related to the population or sample of interest is the most effective way to accomplish this task and provide recommendations. Today, data collection and analysis are widely valued in every facet of our society. Nowadays, statistics is a key component of practically every discipline, including astronomy, biology, botany, psychology, physics, chemistry, economics, and business. Thus, there are many applications for statistics.
Data analysis using suitable statistical tools or procedures yields relevant predictions, inferences, decisions, and meaningful conclusions. Thus, a lot of work has gone into using statistical tools to forecast the key variables causing infant death worldwide. Statistical approaches such as regression and correlation analysis have become widely used in mortality research based on variables or factors that are known to predict mortality. Socioeconomic factors, including vaccinations, exclusive breastfeeding, and the adoption and use of insecticide-treated nets, have been found to be major predictors of child mortality in studies utilizing statistical approaches, particularly in developing nations. The risk of morbidity and mortality, mother education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and maternal and child health care services are some of these proximate factors (Uddin, Hossain & Ullah, 2008).
The infant mortality rate in Nigeria is appallingly high compared to the average rate in other nations, even with these recognized contributing factors. According to statistics, Nigeria accounts for up to 20% of all child fatalities in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2011 report and the World Bank (2013), child mortality in Nigeria rose from 138 per 1,000 live births in 2007 to 158 per 1,000 live births in 2011. However, there are particular times of greater susceptibility within the infant group. For example, deaths that occur during the first year of life (infant) account for 60% of child mortality; the most susceptible time is the first 24 hours of life, which is followed by the first week and the first month (Kyei, 2011).
The study of the causes behind child and maternal mortality involves a multidimensional approach encompassing medical, socio-economic, and cultural factors. Common causes of maternal mortality include obstetric complications such as hemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labor, often exacerbated by inadequate access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care. For children under the age of five, leading causes of mortality include infectious diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, as well as complications during childbirth, malnutrition, and lack of access to essential healthcare services. Understanding the complex interplay of these factors is essential for designing targeted interventions and policies aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality rates globally.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that despite global efforts to improve maternal and child health, high rates of mortality persist, particularly in resource-limited settings. Several interconnected problems contribute to this ongoing challenge:
- Inadequate access to quality healthcare services: Many women in low- and middle-income countries lack access to essential maternal healthcare services such as skilled birth attendance, prenatal care, and emergency obstetric care, leading to preventable maternal deaths.
- Socio-economic disparities: Poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality exacerbate maternal and child mortality rates by limiting access to healthcare, nutritious food, clean water, and sanitation facilities.
- Health system weaknesses: Weak healthcare infrastructure, shortages of trained healthcare professionals, and insufficient medical supplies hinder the provision of timely and effective maternal and child healthcare services in many regions.
- Cultural and societal factors: Cultural practices, traditional beliefs, and social norms may influence healthcare-seeking behavior, childbirth practices, and decision-making regarding maternal and child health, sometimes leading to harmful outcomes.
Furthermore, disparities in healthcare financing, research, and development disproportionately affect maternal and child health outcomes, perpetuating inequalities within and between countries. Addressing these multifaceted problems requires comprehensive strategies that prioritize maternal and child health, promote equitable access to healthcare, and address underlying social determinants of health.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to identify the Causes of Child and Maternal Mortality Rate. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine socio-economic determinants such as poverty, education, and access to healthcare services that influence maternal mortality rates;
- To identify the primary medical causes of maternal mortality, including obstetric complications and underlying health conditions;
- To assess the leading causes of child mortality, including infectious diseases, malnutrition, and perinatal complications;
- To analyze cultural and societal factors affecting maternal and child health outcomes, including cultural beliefs, traditional practices, and gender norms;
- To evaluate existing interventions and policies aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality rates and identify gaps in implementation and effectiveness;
- To explore the impact of health system factors such as healthcare infrastructure, workforce capacity, and availability of essential medicines on child and maternal mortality rates; and
- To provide recommendations for evidence-based strategies to address the underlying causes of child and maternal mortality and promote maternal and child health globally.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there existing interventions and policies aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality rates and identify gaps in implementation and effectiveness?
- Is there significant impact of health system factors such as healthcare infrastructure, workforce capacity, and availability of essential medicines on child and maternal mortality rates?
- What are the socio-economic determinants such as poverty, education, and access to healthcare services that influence maternal mortality rates?
- What is the primary medical causes of maternal mortality, including obstetric complications and underlying health conditions?
- What are the leading causes of child mortality, including infectious diseases, malnutrition, and perinatal complications?
- What are cultural and societal factors affecting maternal and child health outcomes, including cultural beliefs, traditional practices, and gender norms?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Higher levels of socio-economic development, including access to education, healthcare services, and economic opportunities, will not correlate with lower child and maternal mortality rates.
- H1: Higher levels of socio-economic development, including access to education, healthcare services, and economic opportunities, will correlate with lower child and maternal mortality rates.
1.7 Significance of Study
Understanding the causes of child and maternal mortality rates is of paramount importance for several reasons:
- Informing Policy and Interventions: Findings from this study can inform the development of evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality rates globally. By targeting the underlying causes identified, policymakers can implement more effective strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
- Allocating Resources Effectively: By identifying the key factors contributing to child and maternal mortality, governments and healthcare organizations can allocate resources more effectively. This includes investments in healthcare infrastructure, training healthcare professionals, and implementing community-based interventions to address specific needs.
- Advancing Health Equity: Understanding the disparities in child and maternal mortality rates across different regions and population groups can help address health inequities. By targeting interventions towards marginalized and vulnerable populations, this study can contribute to advancing health equity and reducing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
- Promoting Global Health Security: Improving maternal and child health is essential for promoting global health security. Addressing the root causes of child and maternal mortality can strengthen healthcare systems, enhance disease surveillance, and contribute to overall resilience in the face of health crises such as pandemics.
- Empowering Communities: Findings from this study can empower communities by raising awareness about the factors influencing child and maternal health outcomes. By engaging communities in the development and implementation of interventions, this study can foster a sense of ownership and accountability for improving maternal and child health.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Causes of Child and Maternal Mortality Rate in Lagos State, Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of terms
Mortality:
It refers to Death especially on a large scale
Statistics:
A branch of mathematics that is used to arrange, classify, analyze and present data for the purpose of decision making.
Infant:
They are children less than one year old.
Immunization:
This involves giving the infants drugs to prevent them from diseases.
Mortality:
This refers to the number of deaths within a particular society and within a particular period of time.
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