Under-5 mortality is higher for children whose mothers have no education – Survey report

Findings from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Healthy Survey Report indicate that one’s education level impacts greatly on many aspects of life.

The report, which has been highlighted by the Ghana Statistical Service in commemoration of International Day for Education on January 24, reveals among others, that educating women improves maternal and child health.

“Under-5 mortality for children whose mothers have no education (52 deaths per 1,000 live births) is almost three times higher than for children whose mothers have secondary education or more (19 deaths per 1,000 live births),” the survey gathered.

Other aspects of health that the report underscored the relevance of education on, are delivery at home and vaccination.

“Among women 15 to 49 years who had a live birth in the previous two years, one in every four females (26.5%) with no education delivered at home, which is almost 18 times the percentage of females with more than secondary education (1.5%). Less than half (41.8%) of children 12 to 23 months whose mothers have no education have been fully vaccinated according to the national schedule; about half the percentage of children whose mothers have secondary education or more (82.0%).”

The International Day for Education is commemorated annually on 24th January to raise awareness of the transformative power of education for development.

The theme for this year is “Learning for lasting peace”.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

The day is marked with the belief that without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.

This year, the day is being observed against the backdrop that 250 million children and youth are out of school, and 763 million adults are illiterate.

“Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable. It’s time to transform education,“ the UNESCO states on its website.