DETERMINANT AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFANT MORTALITY IN EGOR LGA, EDO STATE

The study assessed the distribution of infant mortality in Egor Local Government Area of Benin city. The investigation was based on the use of research survey employing the instrument of questionnaire and observation. The objective was based on the use of research and was directed to identify the causes of infant mortality of the study area, to determine the relationship between infant mortality and the respondent’s attributes (location, social, economic and demographic) in the study area, to show the spatial distribution of households with at least a case of infant mortality, to show the spatial distribution of healthcare facilities and their cases of infant mortality, to suggest solutions and recommendations to the problems associated with the causes of infant mortality. Childhood mortality is one of the important indicators of a country’s general medical and public health conditions and consequently the level of socio economic development. In developed countries, infant mortality rates are generally low, while in developing countries, they tend to be higher. There are many factors that contribute to infant mortality, including poverty, inadequate access to healthcare, malnutrition, and poor sanitation and hygiene. The analysis revealed that they are various variables which may lead to infant mortality
in the study area and socio demographic factors which may lead to infant mortality in the study area. The analysis shows that income and education in particular have a
reasonable or rather a significant effect on infant mortality in Egor Local Government Area, Benin City. Reducing infant mortality rates is a global health priority, and numerous efforts have been made to address the underlying causes of infant mortality in order to improve the health and survival of infants and young children around the world. Its decline is therefore not only desirable but also indicative of an improvement in general living.