Analysing levels of child deprivation for Ghana and Nigeria based on household amenities: evidence from demographic and health surveys

The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2013 report indicated that children in sub-Saharan African countries are deprived of their rights to good health facilities and nutrition that would have helped them to develop fully. However, it would seem that the levels if child deprivation differ from country to country. This research aimed at comparing the levels of child deprivation in Ghana and Nigeria. Five areas of childs deprivation were identified. These are: water, sanitation, shelter, electricity and food, as identified in the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for Ghana and Nigeria. The levels of childs deprivation of those basic amenities based on employment status, residence and religion of the parents were compared. Data analysis using descriptive measures and inferential statistics was carried out and the results showed high proportion of malnourished children. The analysis revealed that there are children depending on surface water, living in mud floors and had no education, in both countries. The results further showed that the educational background of parents, employment status and place of residence have significant effects on the level of child deprivation. The entire results could assist policy makers in proposing new ways of improving child development in both countries. Based on the outcomes of this study strategies were proposed that could inform policies on ways of improving child development in the countries studied