Nigeria demographic and health survey shows decline in childhood deaths

The mortality rate for children less than five years is 128 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 201 deaths per 1,000 in 2003, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey has stated.
The USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey, made this known at the launch of the 2013 NDHS in Abuja on Monday.
Harvey said: “The survey shows improvement in a number of key health indicators but at the same time, there is still much room for progress, particularly in reproductive health.
“It highlights a decline in childhood deaths.”
Harvey said the survey showed successes in malaria prevention as every Nigeria household had at least one Insecticide Treated Net, a substantial increase from two per cent of households in 2003.
He said 17 per cent of the children under five and 16 per cent of pregnant women slept under treated nets at night before the survey.
“This is a marked improvement from the 1 per cent of children under five and pregnant women who reported using an ITN in 2003,” Harvey said.
He, however, said that in the area of reproductive health, 60 per cent of women received antenatal care from a skilled provider, a number that had not increased since 2003.
The USAID mission director said that there was no improvement in the proportion of women that gave births at health facilities.
The Chairman of the National Population Commission, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, said the survey was designed to provide information on the demographic and health status of the population.
Duruiheoma said the survey would provide detailed information on the levels and trends of fertility, family planning, maternal and child health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS in the country.
“We hope that information contained in the report will assist policy makers and programme managers in monitoring and designing programme and strategies for improving health and family planning services in Nigeria,” he said.
The NPC chairman called on stakeholders in the health and social sectors to make use of the survey to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Duruiheoma said resources for health intervention programme were scarce and the issue should be addressed to improve health indices of the country.
“Only a judicious allocation of resources and prioritisation can ensure that maximum impact is achieved with available resources,” he said.