The Effect of Pediatric Health Services Availability on Infant Mortality in Cross River State Nigeria

Ugeh; Richard Angioha; Ukut; NseAbasi Lewis; Udoh; Christiana Bassey; Okon; Lydia Effiong; Ibrahim Isyaku; Umaru Musa

doi:10.56201/ijhpr.vol.10.no10.2025.pg45.56

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The Effect of Pediatric Health Services Availability on Infant Mortality in Cross River State Nigeria

Ugeh, Richard Angioha, Ukut, NseAbasi Lewis, Udoh, Christiana Bassey, Okon, Lydia Effiong, Ibrahim Isyaku, Umaru Musa

Abstract

Infant mortality remains a critical development challenge in Nigeria, with profound disparities across regions. This study investigated the effect of pediatric health services availability on infant mortality in Cross River State, Nigeria, with specific objectives to examine the infant attributes-adoption nexus and assess the impact of maternal education and healthcare access. Grounded in complementary functionalist and feminist theoretical frameworks, the research employed a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from 400 mothers of children under- five selected through multi-stage stratified random sampling across the three senatorial districts. Results from descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression revealed significant geographic inequities, with the Northern Senatorial District exhibiting the highest infant mortality burden. Maternal education emerged as the strongest protective factor (coefficient=0.41, p<0.01), reducing infant mortality risk by 59%. Access to primary healthcare (coefficient=0.43, p<0.01) and household income (coefficient=0.98, p<0.001) were also significant predictors, while residence in the Northern District increased mortality risk by 67% (coefficient=1.67, p<0.01). The study concludes that infant mortality in Cross River State is predominantly a socio-economic issue mediated by maternal empowerment and healthcare access disparities. Policy recommendations prioritize accelerating female education, strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure in underserved regions, implementing targeted poverty alleviation programmes, and adopting a zone-based approach to address the stark North-South equity gap, which is essential for achieving sustainable child survival and development outcomes.

Keywords

Infant MortalityPediatric Health ServicesMaternal EducationPrimary Health

References

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The Effect of Pediatric Health Services Availability on Infant Mortality in Cross River State Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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