THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICY ON CHILD SURVIVAL STRATEGIES IN ARDO-KOLA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICY ON CHILD SURVIVAL STRATEGIES IN ARDO-KOLA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2017-10
Authors
ADAMU, Zuwaira Bako
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Abstract
The first five years of life are the most crucial to the physical and intellectual development of children
and determine their potentials to learn and thrive for a lifetime. The issue of child survival is a global
concern. The common causes of child morbidity and mortality are malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal
diseases, preterm births complications and birth asphyxia which are preventable or treatable. This is
inspite of various programmes and policies of governments aimed at addressing the problem. Studies
exist on child survival strategies in Nigeria, but little or not much has been done on the factors
influencing the implementation of Government policy on child survival strategies in rural areas such
as Ardo Kola community. This study therefore examined the implementation government policy on
child survival strategies in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. The study
examined the implementation of Government Policies on child survival strategies in Ardo-
Kola LGA of Taraba State; ascertained the factors influencing the implementation of
Government Policy on child survival strategies in Ardo - Kola LGA; determined the
influence of mothers‘ educational background on child survival strategies in the study area
and also examined possible ways of improving child health in Ardo-Kola Local Government
Area. This study employed Chen and Mosley Model of child survival as theoretical framework. The
research was based on descriptive survey. The study used both the probability and non-probability
sampling methods in obtaining its primary data. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 235
mothers. Purposive sampling was employed where 8 in-depth interviews were conducted for key
informants in the Four (4) selected political wards in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba
State. The data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution and percentages. The findings of
the study showed that majority of the respondents (82.2%) were within the age bracket of 20-34years,
and 93% were married. Additionally, 79% had post-primary education, 74% were self-employed,
12.6% civil servant and 9.7% were unemployed. However the study revealed that only 15.1% of the
women sampled make maternal health decisions alone, 21.9% have the decisions made by their
husbands, 60.1% decide jointly with their husbands and 2.9% indicated that decisions about maternal
health were made by other members of their family. Their mean monthly income was N8, 520.
Immunization was mentioned as a government policy on child survival strategies. A large proportion
of the women from Ardo-Kola ward (36.6%) said it was effective, while a good number of the women
in Sunkani Ward (40.0%), Lamido Borno ward (44.2%) and Zango Kombi ward (43.3%) did not see
immunization as being effective. The large proportion of mothers (45.1%) said that basic health
services like vaccination and community outreaches are factors that influenced child survival
strategies and this was found to be inadequate in Ardo-Kola ward (45.5%); while a higher proportion
of the respondents said that it is very inadequate in Sunkani ward (64.0%), Lamido Borno ward
(46.5%) and Zango Kombi ward (45.0%). Most women from Ardo-Kola ward (51.2%), Zango Kombi
ward (65.0%), Sunkani Ward (46.0%) and Lamido Borno ward (81.4%) said government funding,
policies and implementation were inadequate and a major factor that influenced child survival
strategies. From the findings of the study, it was deduced that government funding, policies and
implementation were inadequate and that has affected the purpose of formulating and implementing
some of these government policies. This study recommended among others that, there is urgent need
for more adequate funding of health programmes; thus, funds can be rechanneled from some areas
that do not benefit the generality of the citizens of Ardo Kola to support health programme
implementation.
Description
THESES SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS DEGREE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA
Keywords
IMPLEMENTATION,, GOVERNMENT POLICY,, CHILD SURVIVAL STRATEGIES,, ARDO-KOLA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, TARABA STATE,, NIGERIA