The environment of infant and child mortality: a case study of Nigerian villages
Vche, C.
Working Papers, Women in International Development, Michigan State University 111: 40
1986
Document Number: 317972
The report of a survey of 900 mothers under 50 years of age in two Igbo villages in Nigeria is presented. The villages are identified as having a high child mortality rate and the report aims to decipher factors responsible for this. It finds that the mothers surveyed were aware of the causes of illness and death and spaced their births using breastfeeding and sexual taboos. Most of them received advice about children's illnesses and the contents of such communication emphasized the use of modern medicines. Only a few patronized traditional healers or believed children's deaths were due to the recurring birth of a spiritchild (ogbanje). Given the positive attitudes towards modern health care the report finds the reasons for the high mortality rate are environmental and technological. They include a lack of clean water, toilet facilities and modern medicines.