The National Population Commission (NPC) said the concept of Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study was introduced to provide crucial insights into the causes and contributing factors behind maternal and child deaths in Nigeria.
The study according to the NPC, seeks to collect data that will inform policies and interventions aimed at addressing maternal and child mortality in the country.
Addressing a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman of the NPC, explained that the study is a follow-up to the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS). He noted that the study will explore the cultural, social, and healthcare-related factors influencing neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality rates
“The Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) Study is a research initiative that aims to determine the causes and contributory factors to deaths in children under five years of age and in women of reproductive age,” he stated.
The VASA study, which will run from November 4 to December 15, 2024, spans all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It will focus on households where maternal and child deaths were recorded during the 2023-2024 NDHS, with consent obtained for further investigation.
Hon. Kwarra highlighted that the VASA study has been conducted twice before, in 2014 and 2019, and this third edition will provide updated data critical for planning health interventions in Nigeria.
“As the agency tasked with generating demographic data for planning purposes, the National Population Commission, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and other key Ministries, is conducting the VASA study to assist policymakers with reliable data for formulating health sector policies related to maternal and child health,” Kwarra said.
“The result of the study will provide national and zonal-level estimates of the major causes of under-five and maternal mortality in the country. Furthermore, it will highlight patterns of care-seeking, social factors, and interventions received by children under five years of age, along with qualitative narratives associated with these patterns,” he explained.
The VASA study, which is based on a sample from the NDHS, will involve both qualitative and quantitative teams. This dual approach, he explained is designed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to mortality.
“The quantitative team will focus on responses from caregivers in households, while the qualitative team will conduct group discussions and in-depth interviews within communities,” said Kwarra.
The study has drawn attention to the high rate of under-five mortality in Nigeria, which stands at 110 deaths per 1,000 births according to the 2023-2024 NDHS. Kwarra stressed the need for reliable data to combat this challenge, stressing that every available tool must be deployed to combat and curb this challenge, just as he expressed optimism about the potential impact of the data.
“I am very optimistic that the data will be used by policymakers and other stakeholders to design and implement programs that will significantly reduce neonatal, child, and maternal mortality to the barest minimum in Nigeria,” he stated.
The Chairman, therefore, called for widespread support for the success of the survey while also expressing gratitude to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for providing financial assistance, as well as to other stakeholders such as ICF, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Bureau of Statistics.
“I want to urge government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, and members of the press to support the success of this exercise,” he appealed.
This study is expected to provide the critical data needed to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria, marking a significant step toward reducing the country’s high mortality rates.