Evaluating the Role of Households' Food Security Status and Socioeconomic Determinants on Child Mortality in Nigeria

Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi (), Abiodun Olusola Omotayo (), Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju (), Mistura Adedoyin Rufai (), Kabir Kayode Salman (), Oluwadara Pelumi Omotayo (), Bisola Oyediran (), Mobolaji Victoria Adejoorin (), Bola Amoke Awotide () and Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu ()
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Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi: International Fund for Agricultural Development
Abiodun Olusola Omotayo: North-West University
Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju: Economics and Evaluation Branch
Mistura Adedoyin Rufai: The World Bank Group
Kabir Kayode Salman: University of Ibadan
Oluwadara Pelumi Omotayo: North-West University
Bisola Oyediran: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Mobolaji Victoria Adejoorin: University of Ibadan
Bola Amoke Awotide: Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT
Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu: North-West University

Child Indicators Research, 2024, vol. 17, issue 4, No 11, 1687-1714

Abstract: Abstract When addressing global development, it is imperative to recognize the relationship between food security and child mortality. Despite the targeted goals of SDGs 2 (zero hunger) and 3 (good health and well-being), Nigeria continues to grapple with relatively high rates of child malnutrition, alongside persistent challenges in child mortality and food insecurity that affect its population significantly. This study employed the Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) dataset with 11,655 households to estimate the impact of food (in)security on child mortality using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM). The study shows that food insecurity is predominant in the rural northern and urban southern part of Nigeria. Child mortality rates were found to be influenced by various factors such as maternal education, maternal age, geopolitical zones, place of residence, and access to healthcare facilities, showcasing a complex interplay of positive and negative impacts. The empirical estimates revealed that households’ food insecurity had a significant impact on child mortality in Nigeria. Hence, in order to achieve the SDG’s 2 and 3 in Nigeria, a more concerted effort should be geared towards food security and child mortality among the Nigerian rural and urban communities. The insights from this study underscore the importance of prioritizing interventions that drives food security, enhancing nutritional access, and tackling underlying social determinants to substantially reduce child mortality rates. It is imperative for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities to integrate complementarity approaches in developing sustainable solutions that safeguard the well-being and prospects of Nigeria's children.

Keywords: Child well-being; Food-nutrition behaviors; Health economics; Social welfare; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s12187-024-10134-5

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