Urbanicity and Child Health in Africa: To What Extent Is Living in Urban Areas Associated with Care Seeking for Fever in under-Five Children in Nigeria?

Lukman Solanke, Obafemi Awolowo University
John Abe, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Jude Ewemade

Studies have linked urbanicity to different aspects of human health. Nevertheless, evidence is not widely available on the extent to which living in urban areas is associated with care seeking for fever in under-five children, hence this study. The data analyzed were extracted from the 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS). The analyzed weighted sample is 3,947 children. The outcome variable is care seeking for fever (‘prompt care seeking = 1’ or ‘non-prompt care seeking = 0’). The main explanatory variable is the place of residence. Two binary logistic regression models were fitted. Results showed that 59.8% of children with fever received prompt care, with a slight urban-rural disparity (61.9% vs. 59.2%). The factors that significantly accounted for inequitable care seeking are sharing toilet facilities, maternal education, and the age of under-five children. Living in an urban area is marginally associated with seeking prompt care for fever in Nigeria.