Maternal mortality has remained one of the health issues of concern in Nigeria. According to estimates from the World Health Organization, current maternal mortality in Nigeria is 814 deaths per every 100,000 live births. That represents 814 women dying out of every 100,000 living children born to a woman. Nigeria and India combined account for 34% of the total maternal deaths reported across the globe.
While a woman in Nigeria has 1 in 22 chances of dying from pregnancy, childbirth, or post-delivery complications, that rate drops to 1 in 4,900 in more developed parts of the world. Many such deaths are avoidable.
Causes of Maternal Mortality in Nigeria
There are many contributors to such a staggering maternal mortality rate. Based on the three-delays model, one can single out one of the main challenges explaining why most women do not get the needed medical attention or get it when it is too late:
- Some women and families hesitate to go to the hospital due to cultural beliefs, lack of awareness, or financial difficulties.
- Poor road conditions and a lack of transportation make it difficult for pregnant women to get timely medical attention.
- Delay in receiving care at the hospital – Even when women reach a hospital, they may face long wait times, a shortage of medical staff, or inadequate equipment.
Other contributing factors include:
- Lack of skilled birth attendants – Many women give birth at home or in traditional settings without medical professionals.
- Poor healthcare infrastructure – Many primary health centers lack doctors, nurses, or medical supplies.
- Economic barriers – Some women cannot afford hospital fees or transportation costs.
- Cultural and religious beliefs – In some communities, women prefer to give birth at home due to tradition or seclusion practices.
Solutions to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Nigeria
Several measures can help lower maternal mortality rates and improve the survival chances of pregnant women.
1. Improve Access to Skilled Birth Attendance
Nigeria has more than 34,000 PHCs in both urban and rural areas. Many of these are poorly funded and ill-equipped. Strengthening PHCs can ensure skilled care for women in pregnancy and childbirth. An increase in skilled birth attendance has been proven to reduce maternal deaths significantly.
2. Strengthen Emergency Transportation and Referral Systems
Most maternal deaths happen due to the inability of the women to reach the hospital in time. Improvement in road networks, ambulance services, and emergency transport options can facilitate quicker access to health facilities by women. A few successful community-based transportation schemes exist, such as motorbike ambulances in some rural settings.
3. Provide Affordable and Accessible Maternal Healthcare
The high costs in hospitals deny many women from accessing proper care. Expanding the free or subsidized maternal healthcare programs ensures that women receive necessary services at no cost, irrespective of their status. Scaling up programs such as the NHIS is crucial to cover more pregnant women.
4. Address Cultural Barriers and Improve Community Awareness
Cultural beliefs in most communities guide decisions on maternal health care. Some women, however, also prefer traditional birth attendants, who are more caring. Others avoid hospitals because of negative experiences with healthcare providers.
Community outreach programs also have a critical role in educating families on why hospital deliveries by skilled attendants are so vital.
5. Improve Healthcare Facilities and Training for Medical Staff
Many Nigerian hospitals lack much-needed equipment and professional personnel. Better healthcare infrastructure with modern medical equipment and more trained doctors and nurses can lead to better maternal outcomes.
Additionally, hospitals need to upgrade the quality of their services. It is evident from studies that women avoid hospitals, not because facilities are inadequate, but because of certain negative experiences with doctors and health workers. Women will feel motivated to seek care from a hospital if doctors and nurses can show respect and kindness towards them.
Conclusion
Maternal mortality in Nigeria remains high, but solutions exist. Strengthening healthcare facilities, improving emergency transport, making maternal care affordable, addressing cultural beliefs, and ensuring respectful treatment can all help save lives.
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