National Population Commission Kicks Off Verbal and Social Autopsy Study Data Collection in Kwara, Kogi
The National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, has launched the 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study in Kwara and Kogi states.
The Verbal and Social Autopsy study, conducted every five years, is aimed at addressing maternal and child mortality in Nigeria, focusing on the deaths of women during pregnancy and children under the age of five as the study is designed to gather critical data that will support efforts to reduce these preventable deaths nationwide.
According to the State Director, Mr. Adepoju Emmanuel, the data from the 2014 study showed that Nigeria had a maternal mortality rate of 157 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, the 2019 data recorded by the NPC indicated a slight improvement, with the figure dropping to 132 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Alhaji Razak Gidado, the Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission in Kwara State, emphasized the importance of the study in building upon previous research to address these challenges as he acknowledged the progress made but noted that more work was needed to eliminate the preventable causes of maternal and child deaths.
He urged field workers to conduct the study with professionalism, integrity, and empathy, ensuring that the data collected would be accurate and helpful in shaping policies aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
The data collection process will cover 38 households in each of the 13 local government areas of Kwara State and will last for 20 days. Mrs. Titi Ahmed, the coordinator in charge of Kwara and Kogi states, explained that the study would focus on deaths related to pregnancy and children aged 0 to 59 months. The findings of the study will contribute to policies and interventions aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality rates in the country.
