Under-Five Mortality in Nigeria

Perception and Attitudes of the Ikwerres in Rivers State towards the Existence of “Ogba – NJE”

Bibliographic Data

ID19481925
AuthorsOkorie Kalu Osonwa (University of Calabar), MARY ARIKPO IYAM, HAPPINESS ROY OSONWA (University of Calabar)
Year2012
Volume3
Issue2
Publication date2012-12-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Sociological Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1948-5468 • E-ISSN: 1948-5468
PublisherMacrothink Institute, Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.5296/jsr.v3i2.2738
OpenAlexW2049919724
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited2

The paper examines the under-five mortality in Nigeria with regards to the perception and attitudes of the Ikwerres about the existence of ‘Ogba-nje’ (children from the spirit world) and the mode of treatment given to such children. The study elicited information from 1695 women of reproductive age in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor LGAs of Rivers State South-South, Nigeria. The study shows that (i) more than half of the respondents believe in the existence of Ogba-nje children; (ii) that Ogba-nje children can be identified from the evidence of past death, frequent indisposition, non-responsiveness of their illness to moderate medical care as well as repeated death and verification from traditional healers; that causes of illness differ between Ogba-nje and non Ogba-nje children; (iv) close to 71 percent of the respondents have faith in traditional methods of treatment for Ogba-nje children. The study, therefore, reiterate the need to integrate the people;s beliefs, attitudes and behavioural practices into health promotion progammes. Keywords: Under-five mortality, Perception, Attitudes and “Ogba-nje”

Faith · Perception · Political science · Port harcourt · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Theology · Child and Adolescent Health · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Law · Psychology