A fresh analysis of the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) has raised new concerns over newborn survival in Ebonyi State, following findings that neonatal mortality is higher in health facilities compared to births that occur at home or in non-formal settings.
An independent public health reviewer, who examined the neonatal component of the NDHS 2024 dataset for Ebonyi, noted that while facility delivery is expected to provide safer conditions for mothers and newborns, the data show a troubling reversal of expectations.
The reviewer suggested that the pattern may be partly due to the fact that the most complicated or emergency cases end up in facilities, often after prolonged labour or failed attempts at home or with traditional birth attendants (TBAs). However, the findings also highlight potential weaknesses in quality of care, emergency readiness, and immediate postnatal support in some health centres.
Nationally, the NDHS 2024 places Nigeria’s neonatal mortality rate at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, underscoring the persistent challenge of newborn survival. State-level comparisons indicate that Ebonyi’s neonatal and infant mortality rates remain higher than those of several southern states, pointing to systemic gaps that require urgent policy and operational attention.
Health experts identify several factors driving neonatal deaths in Ebonyi, including:
- Late presentation of high-risk cases to hospitals
- Shortages of skilled birth attendants in rural facilities
- Limited neonatal resuscitation and emergency equipment
- Poor intrapartum monitoring and infection control
- Low rates of early postnatal follow-up
Despite the concerning indicators, the independent reviewer expressed hope that the new medical equipment recently distributed to health facilities across the state could help improve outcomes—provided it is paired with improved staffing, continuous training, and strengthened referral systems.
The NDHS 2024 findings have triggered renewed calls from public health stakeholders for focused interventions to improve intrapartum care, expand community awareness, and ensure that every newborn receives timely and appropriate care within the critical first hours of life.
As Ebonyi continues to implement health sector reforms, observers will be watching closely to see whether these efforts translate into measurable reductions in neonatal deaths.
Read the Full NDHS 2024 Report
https://cdn.sanity.io/files/5otlgtiz/production/85827e6e5105f14e496d9cd0bcdd92f201a54ce1.pdf
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