The Impact of Poverty on Under 5 Children in Rural Communities of the West African Region

Background: Under 5 children mortality is a significant public health issue in West Africa, where poverty is prevalent. Poverty is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects various aspects of life, including health outcomes. The impact of poverty on under 5 children mortality has been extensively studied in West Africa, and this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the findings of these studies.

Methods: This review is aqualitative Narrative review in which systematic review procedures were employed to search, select, and extract data from overviews that meet eligibility criteria for this study. The search yielded a total of 1,245 articles; published between 2005 and 2023 in West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, and Senegal. 78 articles were selected for full-text review, out of which 30 met the inclusion criteria and included in the final analysis. The studies used different study designs, including cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies. The sample sizes ranged from 100 to 10,000 participants.

Results: The findings of the studies showed that poverty has a significant impact on under 5 children mortality in West Africa. Children from poor households were more likely to die before their fifth birthday compared to children from wealthier households. Poverty also affected the health outcomes of mothers, which in turn affected the health outcomes of their children. The studies identified various factors that contribute to the impact of poverty on under 5 mortality, including malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, poor sanitation, and inadequate housing. The studies also highlighted the role of community-level factors, such as social support and community participation, in mitigating the impact of poverty on under 5 mortality.

Conclusion: Poverty affects various aspects of life, including access to healthcare, nutrition, and basic amenities, which in turn affects the health outcomes of children. Community-based interventions that address the underlying causes of poverty and improve access to healthcare and basic amenities should be strengthened, designed better and implemented in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability. Further research is needed to identify effective interventions that can improve health outcomes in impoverished communities.