Maternal Autonomy and Attitudes Towards Gender Norms: Associations with Childhood Immunization in Nigeria

This paper looks at whether measures of gender equality, autonomy, and individual attitudes towards gender norms are associated with a child being fully immunised in Nigeria.

The authors note that, globally, 2.5 million children under the age of 5 die from vaccine-preventable diseases. In Nigeria, only 23% of children aged 12-23 months are fully immunised. The international community is promoting gender equality as a means to improve the health and well-being of women and their children.

Data from currently married women with a child 12-23 months from the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were used to study the influence of autonomy and gender attitudes on whether or not a child is fully immunised. Multivariate logistic regression was used, and several socioeconomic variables were controlled for - including wealth and education. Findings indicated that household decision making and attitudes related to wife beating were significantly associated with a child being fully immunised after controlling for socioeconomic variables. Ethnicity, wealth, and education were also significant factors.

Programmatic and policy implications indicate the potential for the promotion of gender equality as a means to improve child health. Gender equality can be seen as a means to enable women to access life-saving services for their children.