Abstract:
This study was undertaken to determine the morbidity and mortality prevalence of six killer diseases among under five children in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State 2006 – 2010. Eight research questions were posited and six hypotheses were postulated to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive method utilizing the expost – facto design. The sample for the study consisted of 544 children who area exposed to these six killer diseases in various hospitals, maternities, health centres and health post in Enugu East Local Government Area from 2006 – 2010. The data were collected using the researcher designed morbidity and mortality prevalence inventory profoma (MMPIP) which was used to gather information from folders of children under five years hospital, informations concerning morbidity and mortality prevalence (55.56) of six killer diseases among under five children. The data collected were analyzed using percentages for the purpose of answering the research questions while chi-square (2) statistics was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The results of the study revealed that the highest morbidity prevalence of measles was recorded in 2006 (39.5%) while the lowest morbidity prevalence (6.7%) occurred in 2010 and the highest mortality prevalence (55.5%) of measles occurred in 2006 while the lowest mortality prevalence (5.6%) occurred in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The result also showed that the highest morbidity prevalence of poliomyelitis occurred in 2007 (52.5%) while the lowest morbidity prevalence poliomyelitis occurred in 2006 and 2008 and the mortality prevalence (1.6%) of poliomyelitis occurred only in 2006. The highest morbidity prevalence (42.2%) of tuberculosis occurred in 2010 and the lowest morbidity prevalence (7.7%) occurred in 2007 while the mortality prevalence (100%), of tuberculosis occurred in 2006 only morbidity prevalence of tetanus occurred (20%) in each year and the mortality prevalence of tetanus recorded highest in 2007 (62.5%) and lowest in 2008, 2009 and 2010 each. The result also showed that diphtheria morbidity prevalence occurred once in each year from 2006 – 2010 (20%) and the mortality prevalence of diphtheria (20%) occurred once in each year from 2006 – 2010. There was no record of morbidity and mortality prevalence of pertussis during the period understudy. There was no significant difference in mortality prevalence of six killer diseases among under five children according to mothers’ level of education. There was no significant difference in morbidity prevalence of six killer diseases among under five children according to location. There was no significant difference in mortality prevalence of six killer diseases among under five children according to location. The results were extensively discussed and recommendations were made which were among others awareness about the six killer diseases should be created as it concern their signs and symptoms, prevention, treatment, and immunization schedules.
