One in every nine children born in Nigeria dies before the age of five, according to the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2024 report, signalling a public health crisis that reveals gaps in maternal and child care, experts say.

This implies that nearly 10 percent of children born in Nigeria die before their fifth birthday, based on data collected over the five years preceding 2024. Factors such as poor access to essential vaccines and severe or acute malnutrition make under-five mortality a risk to population growth.

BusinessDay analysis revealed that under-five mortality declined by 45 percent, from 201 per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 110 per 1,000 live births in 2024, signalling improvement, yet still worrying statistics.

According to the report, under-five mortality was higher among uneducated women and women under the age of 20. There is a direct correlation between women’s educational level and child care, the report states.

The World Bank notes that higher levels of educational attainment could mean fewer children, which in turn allows families more resources and better care. Additionally, women under the age of 20 may not be physically or emotionally equipped to handle the workload of caring for children under five.

Only six states had single-digit under-five child mortality per 1,000 live births: Delta (7), Ondo (7), Edo (6), Osun (6), Oyo (5), and Kwara (2).

In contrast, Gombe (157), Yobe (145), and Adamawa (144) recorded very high under-five mortality rates. States like Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Niger recorded 11, 13, 15, and 18 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively.

Child mortality and nutrition

Poor nutrition is a major contributor to under-five mortality in Nigeria, according to recent reports. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) notes that nearly half of all deaths among children under five are linked to inadequate nutrition, which weakens the immune system and increases susceptibility to fatal illnesses.

Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) indicates that 40 percent of children under five are stunted, reflecting chronic malnutrition. Stunting is lowest in Rivers State (12 percent) and highest in Katsina State (65 percent). Since 1990, stunting rates have shown only modest improvement.

Acute malnutrition, measured as wasting, affects 8 percent of children under five. Wasting rates increased between 1990 and 2013, peaking at 18 percent, but have declined in recent years.

Additionally, 27 percent of children under five are underweight, while 1 percent are overweight. These figures highlight persistent nutritional challenges that continue to affect child growth, development, and survival in Nigeria. (BisinessDay)