title: Risk factors for infant mortality in rural and urban Nigeria: evidence from the national household survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the rural-urban differences in infant mortality rates (IMRs) and the associated risk factors in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dataset from the 2013 Nigeria demographic and health survey (NDHS), disaggregated by rural-urban residence, was analyzed using complex samples statistics. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was computed to explore the adjusted relationship and identify risk factors for infant mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In rural and urban Nigeria, IMRs were 70 and 49 deaths per 1000 live births, respectively. Risk factors in rural residence were past maternal marital union (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.625, p = 0.020), small birth size (AOR: 1.550, p < 0.001), birth interval <24 months (AOR: 2.057, p < 0.001), residence in North-East (AOR: 1.346, p = 0.038) and North-West (AOR: 1.653, p < 0.001) regions, and cesarean delivery (AOR: 2.922, p = 0.001). Risk factors in urban residence were poor wealth index (AOR: 2.292, p < 0.001), small birth size (AOR: 2.276, p < 0.001), male gender (AOR: 1.416, p = 0.022), birth interval <24 months (AOR: 1.605, p = 0.002), maternal obesity (AOR: 1.641, p = 0.008), and cesarean delivery (AOR: 1.947, p = 0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants in rural residence had higher rates of mortality than their urban counterparts and disparities in risk factors exist between the residences.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.|2 Federal Ministry of Defense, 2 Division Hospital, Ojoo Area, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Olorunleke
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Adewuyi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Reeta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lamichhane
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Determinants; Nigeria; infant mortality; maternal obesity; mode of delivery; risk factors; rural–urban disparities