Effect of Unmet Need for Contraception on Child Survival: Evidence from Nigeria

Sunday Adedini, University of the Witwatersrand

Globally, about 10 million under-five children die annually. Meanwhile, Evidence showed that promoting family planning has the potential of averting 32% of all maternal deaths and 10% of childhood deaths. Thus, the relevant question would seem to suggest whether unmet need for contraception could lead to increased risk of under-five mortality. The study draws on 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Cox regression analysis was performed on a nationally representative sample of 28,647 children to examine the effect of unmet need on child survival; while adjusting for the effects of other important covariates. Findings indicate a significantly lower risk of death for children whose mothers were using contraceptives (hazard ratio: 0.54,p<0.001); and children whose mothers had no unmet need for contraception (hazard ratio: 0.89,p<0.05) compared with those in the reference category. The findings of this study suggest the importance of contraceptive use in the pursuit of MDG4 in Nigeria.