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Spatial and socioeconomic inequalities in under 5 mortality in Nigeria
Authors: Modupe Alake Ayoade
Source: African Geographical Review, Online first; DOI: 10.1080/19376812.2019.1605913
Topic(s): Childhood mortality
Children under five
Inequality
Country: Africa
  Nigeria
Published: APR 2019
Abstract: This study investigates socioeconomic inequalities in under 5 mortality nationally and across states in Nigeria based on secondary data from the 2003, 2008, and 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Inequalities were assessed among groups defined by wealth and mother’s level of education using both relative and absolute inequality measures. Results showed that inequalities largely favored better-off groups. Both relative and absolute inequalities between groups increased in some states but generally decreased in most over time. Findings clearly show that a significant proportion of under 5 deaths could have been avoided if appropriate group-specific policies had been implemented. KEYWORDS: Under 5 mortality rates, socioeconomic inequalities, relative inequalities, absolute inequalities, Nigeria