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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2008

Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research article

A population-based study of effect of multiple birth on infant mortality in Nigeria

Authors: Olalekan A Uthman, Mubashir B Uthman, Ismail Yahaya

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Background

Multi-foetal pregnancies and multiple births including twins and higher order multiples births such as triplets and quadruplets are high-risk pregnancy and birth. These high-risk groups contribute to the higher rate of childhood mortality especially during early period of life.

Methods

We examined the relationship between multiple births and infant mortality using univariable and multivariable survival regression procedure with Weibull hazard function, controlling for child's sex, birth order, prenatal care, delivery assistance; mother's age at child birth, nutritional status, education level; household living conditions and several other risk factors.

Results

Children born multiple births were more than twice as likely to die during infancy as infants born singleton (hazard ratio = 2.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.50, 3.19) holding other factors constant. Maternal education and household asset index were associated with lower risk of infant mortality.

Conclusion

Multiple births are strongly negatively associated with infant survival in Nigeria independent of other risk factors. Mother's education played a protective role against infant death. This evidence suggests that improving maternal education may be key to improving child survival in Nigeria. A well-educated mother has a better chance of satisfying important factors that can improve infant survival: the quality of infant feeding, general care, household sanitation, and adequate use of preventive and curative health services.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
A population-based study of effect of multiple birth on infant mortality in Nigeria
Authors
Olalekan A Uthman
Mubashir B Uthman
Ismail Yahaya
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-8-41

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