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Spatial Analysis of Risk Factors for Childhood Morbidity in Nigeria
Authors: Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, Chen Ji, Nigel Stallard, Saverio Stranges, AND Francesco P. Cappuccio
Source: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Oct 2007; 77: 770 - 779
Topic(s): Child health
Childhood mortality
GIS/GPS
Morbidity
Spatial analysis
Country: Africa
  Nigeria
Published: OCT 2007
Abstract: Recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicate a decline in childhood vaccination coverage but a high prevalence of childhood diarrhea, cough, and fever. We used Nigerian DHS data to investigate the impact of geographical factors and other important risk factors on diarrhea, cough, and fever using geoadditive Bayesian semiparametric models. A higher prevalence of childhood diarrhea, cough, and fever is observed in the northern and eastern states, while lower disease prevalence is observed in the western and southern states. In addition, children from mothers with higher levels of education and those from poor households had a significantly lower association with diarrhea; children delivered in hospitals, living in urban areas, or from mothers having received prenatal visits had a significantly lower association with fever. Our maps are a novel and relevant tool to help local governments to improve health-care interventions and achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG4).
Web: http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/full/77/4/770