Nigeria records reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates

Infant mortality rate in Nigeria has reduced to 65 per 1,000 live births while maternal mortality rate has reduced to 224 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the the Nigerian minister of health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Speaking at the recently held national dissemination workshop on the findings of the National HIV and AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS Plus 2012), he said the latest figures show there is an improvement compared with the UN World Population Prospects and the Institute for Health Metric Reports (2010) which put the country’s rate at 545 per 100,000 on maternal mortality. 

According to the report, infant mortality rate stood at 75 deaths per 1000 live births.

According to the permanent secretary of health ministry, the NARHS plus survey was conducted in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. He said the survey was the fourth in the series. Previous surveys were conducted in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

He said: “The figures obtained from the population-based data in this survey reveal more accurate figures. The finding on infant and maternal mortality rates has indicated improvement over the previous indices for the country.

“It also showed that HIV prevalence among general population put at 3.6 percent in 2007 has declined to 3.4 per cent in 2012.” He said.

He added that quality data would adequately lead to formulation of informed policies and interventions.