Infant mortality remains a pressing public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria . Defined as the number of infants who die before reaching their first birthday per 1,000 live births in a year, the infant mortality rate (IMR) serves as a critical indicator of a nation's health and socio-economic development. Globally, significant progress has been made in reducing infant deaths, with the IMR declining from 65 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 27.4 in 2020. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, the burden remains disproportionately high, with an average IMR of 50.2 deaths in 2020. Alarmingly, Nigeria recorded an IMR of 72.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same year, far exceeding the global average. In 2019 alone, Nigeria accounted for an estimated 548,116 infant deaths, representing 28% of all infant deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. The slow progress in reducing Nigeria's IMR raises concerns, particularly when compared to countries like ...
...so, why ask why?