Community-led Water Source Management Programmes and Child Mortality Reduction in Nigeria: A Two-Year Field Study

Child mortality remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, despite efforts to improve access to clean water sources. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys, focus group discussions, and observational assessments conducted among children under five years old. The programme significantly reduced the incidence of diarrheal diseases (p < 0. 05) associated with contaminated water sources by 30%, contributing to a decline in child mortality rates. Community-led initiatives play a crucial role in improving access to safe drinking water and reducing child mortality, thereby highlighting the importance of community engagement in public health interventions. Communities should be actively involved in planning and implementing water source management programmes to ensure sustainable improvements in hygiene practices. Water Source Management, Child Mortality Reduction, Community Engagement, Nigeria Treatment effect was estimated with logit (pᵢ) =₀+^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.