Dynamics of Child Health Services in Nigeria: A Review

Abstract

Childcare has been identified as an integral aspect of integrated maternal and child health services and is aimed at child health promotion for childhood psychosocial and physical development. This study assessed the dynamics of child health services in Nigeria. This was in relation to Nigeria’s poor child health indices with the view to encouraging standard practices neglected over the years. It targets preventive health services to stem diseases and disability among children while promoting early diagnosis of diseases and prompt treatment. These services encompass the provision of childhood immunization, probing for and identification of handicapped children for early rehabilitation, child health education, and nutrition, promotion of environmental sanitation, and monitoring of developmental milestone through proper feeding. Other child health services include sickle cell prevention services, education of caregivers on the importance and use of oral rehydration therapy, and use of antimalarial treatment, and rehabilitation of already affected children. This is invaluable, especially in regions with developing countries where more than 50% of children die before their fifth birthday.