KNOWLEDGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND HOUSEHOLDBEHAVIORAL PRACTICES CONTRIBUTING TO POOR CHILDHEALTHCARE IN OTA NIGERIA

The extent to which a child is exposing to health risks determines the level to which the child contractsdisease and mortality. Invariable, exogenous factors such as healthcare practices and environmental factorssuch as access to improved sanitation and household hygiene among others are crucial in loweringmorbidity and better child survival, particularly in sub Saharan Africa with high prevalence of poor healthsystem and poverty. Child morbidity and mortality are highly influenced by socio-environmental practices ofthe mother and household. Nigeria has a very high child mortality rate (128) and one of the United NationsSustainable Development Goals - 3, is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Andspecifically, Sustainable Development Goals - 3 has one of its target to achieve reduction of under-5mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1000 live births by 2030. The objective of the study, therefore, was toexamine the relationship between mothers’ environmental related factors and behavioral practicescontributing to child’s healthcare in the study area. The study was based on survey of child morbidity andsurvival in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and regression analysisusing SPSS version 19 and 1350 respondents constituted the sample size. Results from linear regressionshow that time needed to obtain treatment for child at the health facility were significantly associated withkey environmental and behavioral factors like type of Cooking Fuel (P = 0.003); type of household wastedisposal practice (P = 0.000); maintaining clean environmental and personal hygiene (P = 0.000); number ofpersons living in the house (P = 0.000); and number of times last child fall sick in a month (P = 0.000).Fromthe findings, the paper recommends that Government should establish more health facilities in the studyarea and its environs to reduce the awesome time wasted at health facility during treatment. In addition,health education and mass enlightenment should be strengthened to create greater awareness on adverseenvironmental and household behavioral practices in order to improve the health of children under-five yearsand reduce child mortality in the study area and beyond