title: Inequities in under-five mortality in Nigeria: differentials by religious affiliation of the mother.
abstract: Observations in Nigeria have indicated polio vaccination refusal related to religion that ultimately affected child morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the role of religion in under-five (0-59 months) mortality using a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of 7,620 women aged 15-49 years from the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and included 6,029 children. Results show that mother's affiliation to Traditional indigenous religion is significantly associated with increased under-five mortality. Multivariable modelling demonstrated that this association is explained by differential use of maternal and child health services, specifically attendance to prenatal care. To reduce child health inequity, these results need to be incorporated in the formulation of child health policies geared towards achieving a high degree of attendance to prenatal care, irrespective of religious affiliation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Medicine (Unit of Epidemiology), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden. diddy.antai@ki.se
authors.forename: Diddy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antai
authors.forename: Gebrenegus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghilagaber
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wedrén
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macassa
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moradi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D046688:Child Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D055815:Young Adult