IMMUNISATION AND CHILD MORTALITY IN WEST AFRICA

ISHOLA,, OJONE PATIENCE (2022) IMMUNISATION AND CHILD MORTALITY IN WEST AFRICA. Masters thesis, Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State.

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Abstract

This study sought to investigate the effect of immunisation coverage on child mortality in fifteen West African countries, with interest on the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). Panel data was sourced from the World Development Indicators for the period 2000-2019. Three objectives were addressed. The first assessed the trend in immunisation coverage and child mortality in West Africa; the second examined the levels of immunisation coverage on each vaccine-preventable disease for each country in West Africa and the third objective investigated the impact immunisation coverage had on child mortality, pre- and post-GVAP. The trend analysis was used for the first objective; descriptive statistics (specifically a table) was used for the second objective and fixed effects estimation was implemented for the third objective using three models. The trend revealed increasing immunisation coverage reduced child mortality rate. From the table more countries in West Africa are above the average (percentage) level in immunisation coverage for Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT), Hepatitis B3 and measles. The empirical findings show that, immunisation coverage did not significantly impact child mortality before the GVAP initiative. In contrast, for the post-GVAP era, only HepB3 immunisation coverage significantly reduced child mortality. Also, maternal literacy and improved water source were significant in reducing child mortality. Gross Domestic Product per capita was insignificant, probably due to low allocation to health. It was recommended that governments in West Africa could strengthen the impact of the GVAP initiative by ensuring an enabling environment for the initiative through its African Regional Immunisation Strategic Plan to carry out its objectives; and programmes that promote awareness for mothers could be implemented by governments within this region with the aim of achieving reduction in under-five deaths.

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