Male Roles and under-Five Mortality in Nigeria: An Analysis of Individual and Family Level Factors

Chukwuechefulam K. Imo, Adekunle Ajasin University

Globally, under-five mortality declined to 5.4 million and these deaths remain considerably high in Nigeria where the slow pace in the reduction of under-five mortality is attributed to the neglected aspect calls for male involvement which could pose some challenges to effective child health care accessibility and utilization. This study examined the influence of individual and family-level factors of male role on under-five mortality in Nigeria. Data on a weighted nationally representative sample of 107,744 birth history from birth recode file of 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were analysed. The study established that men who made independent decisions on their partners’ health care and practice of polygyny were negatively associated with risk of under-five death. Therefore, government, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to urgently create/strengthen intervention strategies in form of routine campaigns, seminars and workshops with respect to household decision-making among men towards improving under-five children’s health outcome.