DISEASE PREVALENCE AND INFANT MORTALITY IN THE RURAL AREAS OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated disease prevalence and infant mortality in the rural areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It relied on primary data obtained from 384 respondents, mainly women in the reproductive age of 15-49 years. They were randomly selected using the multistage sampling technique. The study was conducted in the six rural areas of Abak, Etim Ekpo, Obot Akara, Ibiono Ibom, Itu, Nsit Atai, Mbo and UdungUko and was guided with the assumptions of class theory and epidemiologic transition theories. Findings revealed that the six killer diseases are still on the prowl and prevailing in the study area although with a low incidence of infant mortality. Also, contrary to traditional beliefs on the impacts of natural, supernatural, and mystical forces, contravention of certain norms and or manipulation by witches, sorcerers, deities, and ancestors characterized by witchcraft (Ifot), esien-emana (fate) and ukpong (soul of the mortus), the study found that infant mortality is now determined by medically-related problems, excluding even environmental factors and hygiene. On the basis of these findings, the study recommended among other things the establishment a data pool on vital events in the state and enforcement of a compulsory reporting and documentation of such vital occurrences to provide up to date information on conditions of the new born as well as guide relevant policy and programmes concerning their plights and that of the mothers.