PRENATAL CARE AND INFANT MORTALITY AMONG LOW INCOME ADOLESCENT MOTHERS IN KARU NASARAWA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was on Prenatal care and infant mortality among low income adolescent mothers in Karu Nasarawa State Nigeria.. Three objectives were raised which included; To find out whether mother of low income cause infant mortality in Karu Nasarawa, to ascertain whether prenatal care in affordable to low income adolescent mothers in karu, Nasarawa and to find out if there is a difference between infant mortality rate according to the mother’s age, race, income level, marital status, parity, use of prenatal care, and infant birth weight. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Karu Nasarawa State Nigeria. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

During the past decade the number of births to teen-age mothers has increased significantly. Adolescent mothers are more visible today than they were in the past because of this increase, along with changing moral values, and a declining stigma on illegitimacy. As visibility increases, the public’s awareness of this situation as a major social and health problem also increases. Pregnancy for a teen-ager is often the catalyst which begins what has become known as the “cycle of failure,” or it may simply perpetuate an already present “cycle of failure.” The “cycle” may vary but often includes interrupted formal education, temporarily or permanently; little earning power; poor housing; and inadequate nutrition(Ahe, Clyde, 1986) But perhaps even more important is the psychological risk the pregnant teen-ager brings upon herself and the baby. The body of a teen-ager is not physically mature enough to handle a pregnancy without increased risk to the mother and child. Numerous studies show that obstetrically the pregnant adolescent is a high risk patient, particularly so in the absence of prenatal care, which characterizes so many pregnancies among young girls. Consequently, teen-agers give birth to a higher percentage of premature babies than their older counterparts and mortality rates are higher for teen-agers and their babies than any other group of women and children(Andrews,1979)

The purpose for studying prenatal care and infant mortality among teen-agers, and specifically low income teenagers, is to determine how the mother’s age, race, income level, marital status, and parity influence the use of prenatal care. Further purposes include determining how the timing of prenatal care influences the infant’s birth weight and, finally, how the mother’s age, race, income level, marital status, parity, use of prenatal care, and infant birth weight influence the death of infants under the age of one. Identification of potential problem areas should be important not only in knowing how to minimize the risks involved for the mother and child, but also in identifying potential adolescent mothers through common characteristics(Bancroft, 19880) The knowledge gained should be useful in better understanding the low income adolescent mother. Such knowledge should be especially helpful for parents, social workers, teachers, and youth organization leaders.

Statement of the problem

This study attempted to determine variables significant in predicting use of prenatal care by pregnant females, how timing of prenatal care influenced the birth weight of the infant, and variables significant in predicting increased chance of infants dying before age one. The study was specifically concerned with low income adolescent mothers in a metropolitan setting.

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To find out whether mother of low income cause infant mortality in Karu Nasarawa
2. To ascertain whether prenatal care in affordable to low income adolescent mothers in karu, Nasarawa
3. To find out if there is a difference between infant mortality rate according to the mother’s age, race, income level, marital status, parity, use of prenatal care, and infant birth weight

Research hypotheses

The study formulated the following research hypotheses

H0: prenatal care is not affordable to low income adolescent mothers in karu, Nasarawa.

H1: prenatal care is affordable to low income adolescent mothers in karu, Nasarawa.

H0: there is no difference between infant mortality rate according to the mother’s age, race, income level, marital status, parity, use of prenatal care, and infant birth weight

H2: there is a difference between infant mortality rate according to the mother’s age, race, income level, marital status, parity, use of prenatal care, and infant birth weight

Significance of the study

The study will be very significant to students, mothers and the ministry of health especially Nasarawa. The study will give a clear insight on the prenatal care and infant mortality among low income adolescent mothers in Karu Nasarawa state, Nigeria. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study covers Prenatal care and infant mortality among low income adolescent mothers in Karu Nasarawa State Nigeria. The study will be limited to mothers in Karu, Nasarawa state

Limitations/constraints are inevitable in carrying out a research work of this nature. However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-availability of enough resources (finance): A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.
2. Time factor: The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

Definition of terms

The mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births.

The fertility rate is the number of births per 1,000 live births.

Prenatal care is the medical attention given a pregnant woman by a physician or other qualified person in the medical field.

A perinatal death is the death of an unborn fetus.

A neonatal death is the death of an infant within the first twenty-eight days of life.

A postneonatal death is the death of an infant between twenty-eight days old and one year of age.

A premature or low birth weight baby is an infant weighing twenty-five hundred grams (5 1/2 pounds) or less.

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