Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Immunization Coverage has emerged as a critical factor shaping under-five mortality rate across organizations operating in and around Selected States in Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how immunization coverage relates to under-five mortality rate has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Selected States in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on immunization coverage, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with under-five mortality rate, particularly within Selected States in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about immunization coverage without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect under-five mortality rate. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Immunization Coverage on under-five mortality rate in Selected States in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which immunization coverage influences under-five mortality rate within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with immunization coverage in relation to under-five mortality rate.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing immunization coverage in order to improve under-five mortality rate.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of immunization coverage on under-five mortality rate in Selected States in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does immunization coverage influence under-five mortality rate within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with immunization coverage in relation to under-five mortality rate?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize immunization coverage in order to improve under-five mortality rate?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of public health, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected States in Nigeria seeking to understand how immunization coverage translates into measurable outcomes around under-five mortality rate. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected States in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how immunization coverage relates to under-five mortality rate within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.