Factors associated with child mortality among antenatal care attendees in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

study examined the determinants of child mortality among attendees at a government health care facility in Ado-Odo/Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study, based on a descriptive cross-sectional study, used a mixed-methods research approach and utilized an interviewer-administered structured pretested questionnaire. A total of 1350 respondents constituted the sample size. Data analysis consisted of descriptive and regression analysis with STATA Version 12. Furthermore, the study employed focus group discussions to reinforce the quantitative results of the investigation. Results showed the place of delivery (P = 0.000), distance from house to health facility (P = 0.022), immunization status (P = 0.000), duration of breastfeeding (P = 0.000), cost of treatment at the health facility (P = 0.627), household waste disposal practice (P = 0.000), and ever used oral rehydration solution (P = 0.000) as being significantly associated with child mortality. The study created awareness of behavioral practices affecting child mortality and insights on possible interventions for reducing child mortality. We conclude that community-based educational strategies and the improvement of health facilities will reduce child mortality. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[5s]: 116-125)

EFFECTS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)ACCESS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INFORMAL MICRO- AND SMALL-BUSINESS ENTERPRISES: FURTHER EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

This paper examines the effects of ICT access on the profitability levels of informal micro and small businessenterprises in Nigerian. For formal sector organisations, studies have been conducted to verify this, but not muchis known with respect to micro and small informal sector businesses. This study therefore intends to bridge thisgap by carrying out an analysis of the effect of the access to mobile phone (a major component of ICTs that is fastfinding common usage among informal sector enterprise-owners) on profitability level of informal micro and smallbusinesses in Nigeria. The study relies on primary data on the informal sector enterprises collected by theNigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) in 2014. Basic descriptive statistics in addition to theLogit Regression model is used in the analyses of the data. Policy measures that will enhance further diffusion ofICT infrastructure among micro and small business to enhance their profitability are recommended at the end ofthe pape

HOT MONEY INFLOW, MONETARY SYSTEM ANDINCLUSIVE GROWTH IN NIGERIA.

This study examines the interactive effect of hot money inflows and the monetary system on inclusive growth in Nigeria. The structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) technique is employed to examine this interactive effect. Findings from the study reveal that inclusive growth is positively and significantly impacted by hot money inflows passing through the monetary system. The study therefore, recommends that policies aimed at attracting more inflows of short term capital such as interest rate policies, exchange rate deregulation policies, lower inflation targeting policies, targeting higher GDP growth rates, and the development of stock market structure are to be uncompromisingly pursued

Financial development and income inequality in Africa

Abstract Across the globe, a rise in income inequality has been experienced for the last two decades, particularly in developing countries. This problem of income inequality poses a challenge to Africa’s ability to attain the United Nations (UN) Sustainment Development Goals (SDGs) of reduced inequalities (SDG-10). Against this backdrop, there is a need to harness the potential of financial development to reduce income inequality in Africa. Therefore, this study empirically examines how financial development affects income inequality in Africa. Financial development dimensions, access, depth, efficiency, and stability were considered to achieve the study’s objective. The study applied the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) to analyse data and the findings showed that each dimension of financial development had a varying impact on income inequality. Access, stability and efficiency components of financial development reduce income inequality, while the depth dimension of financial development exacerbates income inequality in Africa. Therefore, the study recommends that policymakers should not neglect other dimensions of finance in facilitating economic development

Internet usage, innovation and human development nexus in Africa: the case of ECOWAS

Abstract Internet usage and the sporadic rise in the level of innovations have been major drivers of human progress in the last decades. These leaps in human intelligence have affected almost every area of human endeavour including education, health, finance, commerce, political engagement, and so on. With the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted some strategies in order to ensure that ECOWAS member countries are not left behind. Thus, this study examines the influence of internet usage and innovation on human development in 15 ECOWAS countries. Using the fixed and random effects panel data techniques, the study finds that Internet usage, innovation and their interaction have significant and positive relationship with human development. Furthermore, the study unbundles the ECOWAS countries and finds that countries like Cape Verde had positive significant coefficient for the three cases examined, the results for some ECOWAS members were not significant, while few had significant negative results, which did not have influence on the overall result. Recommendations on how to increase innovation for human development in ECOWAS countries are highlighted in the study

Misery and Economic Growth Nexus in Nigeria; Implications for Electrical Energy Management

At first glance, misery seems unquantifiable but has been established to be an aggregation of unemployment and inflation. Nigeria is in a pitiable condition as she is ranked the 6th most miserable country in the world. This study aims to ascertain the effect of economic growth on Misery in Nigeria, that is, to determine whether economic growth rate has strengthened or weakened the misery of Nigerians. This study adopts Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model because it considers policy lags of economic phenomena and allows combined order of integrations. The study finds an inverse nexus between economic growth and misery. Hence, recommendations were made in form of measures to ensure the need for economic growth to increase at faster and higher pace to combat high misery levels in Nigeria