Socio-demographic Factors, Breastfeeding Practices andInfant Mortality in Northern Nigeria

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Bankole, Olatunji TaofikSSP 11/12/H/2026

An M.Sc. Research ProposalPresented to

Department of Demography and Social Statistics,Faculty of Social Sciences,

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Nigeria

2014

Overview of Presentation _________________________________________________

Background of the StudyStatement of Research ProblemResearch Questions Research ObjectivesJustification of the StudyConceptual FrameworkResearch HypothesesMethodologyData AnalysisExpected Contribution to Knowledge

Background of the Study_________________________________________________

The Term Infant Mortality is a measure of child’s survival

that defines the death of a child less than a year old.

Infant mortality rate [IMR] is a strong indicator used in

the measurement of a given country’s state socio-economic

development.

Studies have shown that IMRs in most developing

countries of the world are on the decline, while the reverse

is the same in almost all the sub-Saharan Africa.

Background of the Study (Cont’d)_________________________________________________

In Nigeria, the IMR is still high despite different measures taken to

reduce it to the minimum.

Studies have shown that Exclusive Breastfeeding is a reliable

measure to enhancing child’s vulnerability to morbidity and mortality.

The practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Nigeria is yet to be fully

embraced by mothers.

Large proportion of children are suffering from one form of

malnutrition diseases and another, Nigerian children inclusive.

Statement of Research Problem_________________________________________________

Substantial amount of studies have examined the socio-

economic and health factors affecting the practice of

breastfeeding among mothers.

In Nigeria, socio-cultural, economic and political factors,

as well as rapid urbanization have been identified as major

factors hindering mothers from exclusively breastfeeding

their babies.

Statement of Research Problem (Cont’d) _________________________________________________

Exclusive Breastfeeding of babies by mothers have

been identified as measure through which infants’ health

can be enhanced there by making them less vulnerable to

death.

Few studies have specifically explored socio-

demographic factors and breastfeeding practices as

correlates of infant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria,

hence this study.

Research Questions _________________________________________________

This study is designed to provide answers to the

following questions:

What is the pattern of breastfeeding practices among

women in Northern Nigeria?

Is there any relationship between the socio-

demographic characteristics of mothers and their

breastfeeding practices?

Research Questions (Cont’d) _________________________________________________

Is there any relationship between breastfeeding

practices and infant health status?

Is there any relationship between the socio-

demographic characteristics of mothers and infant

mortality?

Research Objectives_________________________________________________

The specific objectives to be achieved in this study are:

To assess the pattern of breastfeeding practices among

women in Northern Nigeria.

To determine the relationship between women’s socio-

demographic characteristics and their breastfeeding

practices.

Research Objectives (Cont’d) _________________________________________________

To ascertain the relationship between breastfeeding

practices and infant health status.

To examine the relationship between women’s socio-

demographic characteristics and infant mortality

Justification of the Study_________________________________________________

Studies’ outcomes have it that every child requires an

adequate nutrition during the first two years of life for

healthy living and behavioural development.

Nigeria’s IMR of 78% per 1000 live births is one of the

highest in the world.

There are variations in breastfeeding practices by

women across regions in Nigeria.

Justification of the Study (Cont’d) _________________________________________________

The median duration (months) of breastfeeding is least

in North East and North West (0.4) and highest in South

West (0.6) among children born in the past three years.

The average IMR of 92 deaths per 1000 live births in

Northern Nigeria compared with 79 deaths per 1000 live

births in Southern Nigeria is basis for choosing to conduct

the subject matter in Northern Nigeria.

Justification of the Study (Cont’d) _________________________________________________

This study focuses on breastfeeding practices and infant

health, which are crucial to all efforts seeking to promote

infant survival and attaining MDG 4 in Nigeria.

Hence, the study can be a vital mechanism through which

the attainment of 35 infant deaths per 1000 live births can be

achieved in Nigeria if not by 2015, but in the nearest future.

Conceptual Framework_____________________________________________________

Independent Variables

Socio-demographic Variables1.Age of mother2.Mother’s educational level3. Place of residence4.Religious belief5.Wealth quintile6.Mother’s employment status7.Ethnicity8.Educational attainment of spouse9.Birth interval10.Mother’s age at first birth11.Occupation

Breastfeeding practicesBreastfeeding practicea. Exclusive

breastfeedingb. Partial

breastfeedingc. Complementary

breastfeeding2.Time of Initiation of

Breastfeeding

Intervening Variables1.Environmental risk factorsa. Unsafe waterb. Sanitationc. Indoor smoke from

cooking fuel2.Health care services

utilizationd. Antenatal caree. Immunizationf. Place of delivery

Dependent Variables1.Infant mortality caused by infanthood diseases2.Treatment of infanthood disease

Figure 2.1: Conceptual framework showing the interrelationship between Socio-demographic Factors , Breastfeeding Practices and Infant Mortality

Research Hypotheses________________________________

Breastfeeding practice is not associated with infant

mortality.

There is no relationship between socio-demographic

factors and infant mortality.

There is no relationship between socio-demographic

characteristic of women and their breastfeeding practice.

Methodology________________________________

Study Area : Northern Nigeria

Data Source : 2008 NDHS data-set will be used.

The data-set will be complemented by primary data:

In-depth Interview

Research Instrument: Women data-set will be used for this study

Sample Size: 12,210

Methodology (Cont’d) ________________________________

Qualitative methods of data collection:

In-depth Interview (IDI) will be conducted with the aid of interviewer’s guide to seek

details from the interviewees.

The target population for the IDI will be women who have had at least a child in the

last five years.

Sample Size for the IDI :Thirty (30) using the simple random selection method- Ten

(10) in a state each in each of Three (3) geo-political zones in Northern Nigeria.

Data Analysis________________________________

The data will be analyzed using STATA 12 software.

The analysis will be carried out in three stages-:

univariate analysis - distribution of the respondents according to their

background characteristics

bivariate analysis - comparison of two variables (dependent and one

independent),to establish the relationship and to determine the

significance of the relationship.

Data Analysis (Cont’d) ________________________________

multivariate analysis - to further analyse the relationships

between independent, dependent and intervening

variables .

logistic regression would also be used.

Odds ratios will be used to compare the relative odds of

the occurrence of the outcome of interest (Infant mortality

and Treatment of Infanthood diseases), given exposure to

any of the variables of interest (independent variables).

Expected contributions to knowledge________________________________

The study will contribute to the understanding of the factors that influence

the adherence of mothers to exclusive breastfeeding practice. It will provide

insight to the positive contributions of exclusive breastfeeding to the

promotion of infants’ health, enhancement of their survival, as well as that

of mothers. Findings from the study will assist government and stakeholders

in the area of promoting infant health, and the realisation of the 35 infant

deaths per 1000 live births in the country by 2015 or nearest future.

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Thank You For Listening