Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries, infant and child mortality rates serve as crucial indicators of public health. Despite ongoing efforts to mitigate these rates, Nigeria continues to exhibit some of the highest infant and child mortality rates in Africa. This research delves into the primary factors contributing to these mortality rates across various regions of Nigeria utilizing data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). By employing the Cox proportional hazards (PH) model, this study identified several significant determinants of mortality rates, including family size, birth order, preceding birth interval, maternal education, maternal age, age at first birth, lack of breastfeeding, wealth index, religious affiliation, availability of toilet facilities, and child sex. Among these factors, lack of breastfeeding emerged as the most critical determinant, demonstrating the highest hazard ratio. These findings elucidate key factors influencing infant and child mortality, providing valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals to devise targeted interventions to reduce mortality rates in Nigeria.