Impact of Multiple Births on Infant Mortality in Nigeria
Author Information
Author(s): Uthman Olalekan A, Uthman Mubashir B, Yahaya Ismail
Primary Institution: Center for Evidence-Based Global Health, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Hypothesis
Do infants born from multiple births have a higher risk of mortality compared to those born singleton?
Conclusion
Multiple births are strongly negatively associated with infant survival in Nigeria, and improving maternal education may enhance child survival.
Supporting Evidence
- Children born multiple births were more than twice as likely to die during infancy as infants born singleton.
- Maternal education and household asset index were associated with lower risk of infant mortality.
- The infant mortality rate was very high among multiple birth children – 236 per 1000 live births compared with 95 per 1000 live births among the singletons.
Takeaway
Babies born as twins or more are more likely to die in their first year than babies born alone, but mothers who are educated can help keep their babies safe.
Methodology
The study used univariable and multivariable survival regression with Weibull hazard function to analyze data from the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of household wealth could lower mortality risks for rural households.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional nature may not account for changes in household characteristics over time, and wealth measurement may misclassify rural households.
Participant Demographics
The study included children born within five years prior to the survey, with a sample distribution showing 51% boys and 49% girls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
1.50, 3.19
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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