Project Materials

NURSES’ ROLE IN PREVENTION OF INFANT AND UNDER-FIVE CHILD MORTALITY IN AFRICA

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

According to data, the poorest 20% of the population in African, American, and Asian cities is twice as likely to die before their first birthday (Infant mortality, WHO, 2013).

Children: Reducing Mortality (2014) estimates that 6.3 million children under the age of five died in 2013. Child mortality is significant because it indicates the use, accessibility, and availability of the health system by the residents, particularly children.

It also demonstrates how much a society exercises the most fundamental human right: the right to life and health (GOAL 4: Reduce under-five child mortality rate, 2010).

Since time immemorial, child mortality has been central to health discourse. Governments, health professionals, and politicians have a singular focus on reducing the global occurrence of childhood fatalities (Fox, 2011).

This interest has not only spread to the international stage, but it has also resulted in the development of effective interventions to reduce child mortality among children under the age of five between 1990 and 2015, and between 2015 and 2030, as outlined in the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (Fox, 2011) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respectively (United Nations, 2015).

Most countries rely key development on reducing under-five and maternal mortality, as suggested by various United Nations (UN) institutions (Lander, 2006). It is also important for countries to determine their newborn and infant mortality rates in order to establish effective intervention programs to reduce unnecessary child deaths. Neonatal mortality is a major public health issue worldwide.

In 2015, 2.7 million people died in the first 28 days of life, a remarkable decrease from 36 fatalities per 1,000 live births in 1990 (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank/United Nations, 2015).

Though neonatal rates fell in some Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Ghana and Uganda (Lawn et al., 2014), the Nigerian Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) fell by 20.4%, from 49 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 39 in 2011 (UNICEF/WHO/Word Bank/UN, 2012), 37 in 2013 (Oestergaard et al, 2009), and 34 in 2015 (UNICEF, 2015). Nigeria has the second-highest number of newborn deaths in the world, trailing only India.

Similarly, despite recent initiatives, Nigeria’s under-five mortality rate remains high. According to the 2013 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, one in every eight children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday, which is nearly 21 times the average rate in affluent countries.

Over a two-decade period (1990-2015), Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) in Nigeria decreased by 57% (from 126 to 69 deaths per 1000 births), while U5M fell by around 49% (from 213 to 109 fatalities) (UNICEF, 2015).

A variety of risk factors and avoidable diseases are common causes of child death. Acute respiratory infections (ARIs), diarrhoea, malaria, and chronic malnutrition all contribute significantly to disease morbidity and mortality in children (Adeyele et al., 2015).

Deaths in the first 28 days of life have been connected to a child’s endogenous (genetically-induced malfunctions, premature births) condition, antenatal care quality, whether aid was provided during delivery, and postpartum care (Adebayo et al., 2014).

However, deaths during the next 11 months are frequently linked to household wealth status, environmental factors, health behaviour, and nutritional practices (Adebayo et al., 2014). Several other factors have been associated with infant and toddler mortality.

Maternal education, early marriage, place of residence, geographical variations, short birth intervals, fertility behaviour, breastfeeding practices, use of health services by mother and/or child, child’s gender, ethnicity, and religion are examples of such factors (Adebowale 2012).

Although the rate of under-five fatalities fell by 28% between 1990 and 2008, it remains high (Goal 4 Reduce Child Mortality, 2010). Research and experience have shown that more than half of the nearly 11 million children who die each year could be saved by measures such as vaccines, antibiotics, micronutrient supplementation, insecticide-treated bed nets, and improved family care and breastfeeding practices (Unicef, Goal: Reduce Child Mortality).

As a result, strengthening the health-care system to provide such therapies has the potential to save countless lives. According to a UN assessment, “nurses are key to achieving the United Nations Development Programme’s Millennium Development Goals,” which include reducing child and maternal mortality (Amieva and Ferguson, 2011).

A child is more likely to live to their fifth birthday if there are enough midwives, nurses, and doctors, according to an article titled “The Vital Role of Health Care Workers” published by the Guardian (2012).

If the under-five mortality rate is to be reduced, nurses must be knowledgeable and empowered when caring for youngsters.

As a result, the purpose of this study is to evaluate and identify nurses’ roles in lowering and/or avoiding newborn and child mortality in order to provide research-based knowledge that nurses may use.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Despite significant achievements in reducing childhood fatalities around the world, recorded progress fell short of attaining the MDG 4 target. The recommended SDG objective for child mortality demonstrates a renewed commitment to the world’s children.

Achieving this increased commitment requires tracking the causes of preventable child mortality. Despite tremendous progress made in recent years to reducing under-five mortality, significant disparities between and within nations persist.

These are caused not only by poverty, but also by social exclusion, de jure and de facto discrimination. The findings of this study would serve as the foundation for developing appropriate interventions to halt unnecessary deaths among newborns and children under the age of five.

As a result, the purpose of this study is to identify nurses’ roles in reducing and/or preventing infant and child mortality.

1.3 Objectives/Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the role of nurses in preventing baby and under-five mortality. The goal is to provide researched material to boost nurses’ knowledge of child mortality prevention using the outcomes of this study. Specifically, the study attempted to:

1. Investigate the link between nurses and the prevention of baby and under-five mortality.

2. Look at what nurses are doing to reduce baby and under-five mortality in Africa.

3. Investigate the issues that nurses encounter in dealing with child mortality.

1.4 Research Questions.

To achieve the study’s objectives and purpose, the following questions should be addressed:

1. What is the link between nurses and the prevention of baby and young child mortality?

2. What steps are nurses taking to reduce baby and under-five mortality in Africa?

3. What are the challenges that nurses confront while dealing with child mortality?

1.5 Research Hypothesis.

Ho: There is no link between nurses and the prevention of baby and young child mortality.

Hi: There is an association between nurse and prevention of infant and under-five mortality.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be extremely beneficial to other researchers who want to learn more about it, and it may also be utilised by non-researchers to expand on their own research. This study will add to our understanding and may act as a model for future research.

1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study is on nurses’ role in prevention of infant and under-five child mortality in Africa.

Limitations of study

Financial constraints: Insufficient funds tend to restrict the researcher’s efficiency in accessing relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in data collecting (internet, questionnaire, and interview).

Time constraint: The researcher will conduct this investigation alongside other academic activities. This will reduce the amount of time spent on research.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Nursing is a health-care profession that focusses on providing care to individuals, families, and communities in order for them to achieve, maintain, or recover their best health and quality of life.

A nurse is a trained professional who provides care to persons who are ill or injured. Nurses collaborate with [doctors] and other health care providers to get patients better and maintain them fit and healthy. Nurses often aid with end-of-life care and other family members’ sorrow.

Infants are very young children or babies.

Mortality Rate: Mortality rate, or death rate, is a measure of the number of deaths in a certain population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit of time.