Mortality Theories: Relevance to Health and Demography in Nigeria

Abstract

Mortality is a component of demographic change that can affect population size of a particular area. Mortality brings about decrease in population size. In Africa, most especially sub-Saharan Africa countries like Nigeria, mortality across the variants is high. There is need for proper understanding of various mortality theories and how relevant these theories are to health and other demographic issues witnessed in developing countries. This study embarked on extensive review of various mortality theories and their relevance to health and demographic issues in Nigeria with a view to proposing recommendations on how the Nigerian government can reduce mortality rate across the country; most especially maternal mortality, infant mortality and child mortality variants. Terror management theory, epidemiological transition theory and stochastic mortality theory were some of the theories reviewed and this study affirmed the relevance of these theories to health and demographic situation witnessed in Nigeria. It was concluded that there is need for more educational programmes on various mortality theories; understanding the connection between these theories and developmental issues in Nigeria. This is because understanding these theories will help in assessing their relevance to health and demographic issues in Nigeria and will also go a long way in guiding the government in formulating policies related to reproductive health in the country.