Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to examine the spatio- temporal analysis of Neonatal Mortality (the
death of infants before 28 days of birth) in Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria using Geographic Information
System (GIS) and Statistical tools. The data for this work was collected from the Jos University
Teaching Hospital. Records of Neonatal Mortality was obtained from the SCBU (Special Care for
Babies Unit) through the mortality library for a period of five years from 2012-2016. Other data
collected include shape files of Jos from the national Centre for Remote Sensing Jos, Plateau state.
The data collected were analyzed using Spatial statistics of Anselin’s Local Moran’s I and Getis-
Ord statistics for identifying the spatial distribution and Cluster analysis; linear regression statistics
for examining the temporal trend; Pearson’s coefficients for analyzing the correlation between the
dependent variable and independent variables. The results of the study revealed that the spatial
distribution of the Neonates’ deaths was mostly in the rural areas of Du and Bukuru districts with
105 and 103 neonatal deaths respectively. Fobur and Jarawan kogi had the lowest deaths of 18 and
20 respectively. Vwang and Jenta apata districts had 48 and 45 neonatal deaths respectively. Gyel,
Zandi, Gangare and Shere had 38, 56, 84 and 44 neonatal deaths respectively. And these were
displayed in Choropleth maps. The analysis of linear regression in the temporal trend showed
significant variation (P< 0.05) on the pattern of Neonatal mortality over the study period. The
Local Moran’s I and Getis- Ord local G spatial statistics for autocorrelation were used for detecting
spatial clusters and Hotspots for the Neonatal mortalities. In examining the relationship between
socio-economic factors and Neonatal mortality, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to
determine the correlation between Neonatal mortality and other factors (variables). And the
Mosley-Chen conceptual model for infant and child survival was adapted for the analysis. The
result of this analysis identified some socio-economic factors that have strong influence on
Neonatal mortality such as Mother’s age, Mother’s education status, Household wealth index.
Based on the findings, recommendations were made on appropriate strategies like educating the
girl child before marriage, empowering the girl child to enable them shoulder some expenses etc,
to reduce the risk of Neonates dying in the study area
