Infant and child health: evidence from four Sub-Saharan African countries

Emmanuel O. Tawiah, University of Ghana

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest levels of infant, child and under-five mortality in the world. Infant mortality rates were 56.7 per 1,000 live births in Ghana (1994-1998), 73.7 per 1,000 live births in Kenya (1994-1998), 75.2 per 1,000 live births in Nigeria (1995-1999) and 99.1 per 1,000 live births in Tanzania (1995-1999). Child mortality varies from 40.8 per 1,000 live births in Kenya to 70.3 per 1,000 live births in Nigeria. Under-five mortality rates for the corresponding periods were 107.6 per 1,000 live births in Ghana , 111.5 per 1,000 live births in Kenya , 140.2 per 1,000 live births in Nigeria and 146.6 per 1,000 live births in Tanzania . Most of these deaths could be prevented. Poverty, malnutrition, a decline in breastfeeding, and inadequacy or lack of sanitation and of health facilities are all factors associated with high infant and child mortality.