SPATIO- TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF NEONATAL MORTALITY IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

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