The Impact of Maternal Education and Socioeconomic Status on Child Health Outcomes in Edo State, Nigeria

The understanding of child health has significantly evolved over the years. Modern perspectives recognize that a healthy childhood is shaped by a complex interplay of factors—biological, social, environmental, and psychological. The study aimed to understand the impact of maternal education and socioeconomic status on child health. The study further sought to investigate the impact of maternal attitude and health practices on child health in a Nigeria context. The study was conducted in the 21-bed sitter pediatric department of Irrua Specialist Teaching hospital, Irrua (ISTH), Edo state Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed from October 2023 to April 2024. A total of 60 questionnaires were distributed for collection of data. From the study, it was seen that all mothers have received various degree of literacy with majority (46.70%) of the women having gotten tertiary level of education and the least (16.70%) having primary level of education with 90% of the women displaying good knowledge. More of the women were middle income earners (60%) while just a few (20%) were high income earners. The study found a positive correlation between maternal attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics, with most women demonstrating favorable attitudes. These findings highlight the importance of maternal education and socioeconomic status in shaping child health outcomes, with potential implications for policy and intervention strategies. The relevance of this study will help all and sundry to step up in contributing their role in reducing children mortality and improve overall quality health care delivery.