DOES INFLATION KILL? AN EXPOSURE TO INFLATION AND UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY IN NIGERIA

Does inflation kill? This paper investigated empirically the effect of inflation on under-five mortality in Nigeria using annual time series covering a period of 35 years, which is between 1990 and 2024. The study used Under-5 Mortality Rate (UFM) as the dependent variable whereas Inflation (INF), Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPPC), Government Expenditure on Health (GEH), and Unemployment (UNEMP) were used as the independent variables. Data were collected from secondary sources and analyzed using descriptive statistics, unit root test, and Co-integration and ECM techniques. The results of the ECM shows that Inflation (INF) increases Under-Five Mortality Rate (UFM); GDP per capita (GDPPC) reduces Under-5 Mortality Rate (UFM); Government Expenditure on Health (GEH) increases Under-Five Mortality Rate (UFM); Unemployment (UNEMP) has no significant effect on Under-5 Mortality Rate in Nigeria. The study therefore concludes that rising Inflation (INF) significantly increases Under-5 Mortality Rate (UFM) indicating that rising prices may reduce household access to essential healthcare and nutrition for children in Nigeria within the period of study. The study therefore recommended amongst others that Government should initiate and implement effective macroeconomic policies aimed at controlling inflation in order to safeguard household consumption of essential goods and health services, thereby reducing inflation-induced under-five mortality.