Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Maternal mortality in Nigeria
According to UNICEF " Every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five year old and 145 women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under–five and maternal mortality rate in the world"
Research shows that, more than 70 percent of maternal deaths in Nigeria are due to five major complications: hemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disease of pregnancy and obstructed labour [NARHS,2003]. Also, poor access to and utilization of quality reproductive health services contribute significantly to the high maternal mortality level in Nigeria. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 30 percent of Nigerian women cited the problem of getting money for treatment, while 24 percent cited the problems of accessibility to health facilities and transportation [ORC Macro, 2004]. Also, 17 percent reported the problem of not getting a female provider in the hospital, while 14 percent reported the problem of not wanting to go alone. Again, 14 percent reported the problem of ignorance of where to go for treatment, while one in ten women complained of the bottlenecks in getting permission to visit hospitals [UNICEF, 2001].
Furthermore, majority of births in Nigeria (66 percent) occur at home [ORC Macro,2004] and only one-third of live births during the five years preceding the most recent demographic health survey occurred in a health facility [ORC Macro, 2004]. A smaller proportion of women receive postnatal care, which is crucial for monitoring and treating complications in the first two days after delivery [ORC Macro, 2004]. Only 23 percent of women who gave birth outside a health facility received postnatal care within two days of the birth of their last child [ORC Macro, 2004]. More than seven in ten women who delivered outside a health facility received no postnatal care at all [ORC Macro, 2004].
Research shows that, more than 70 percent of maternal deaths in Nigeria are due to five major complications: hemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disease of pregnancy and obstructed labour [NARHS,2003]. Also, poor access to and utilization of quality reproductive health services contribute significantly to the high maternal mortality level in Nigeria. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 30 percent of Nigerian women cited the problem of getting money for treatment, while 24 percent cited the problems of accessibility to health facilities and transportation [ORC Macro, 2004]. Also, 17 percent reported the problem of not getting a female provider in the hospital, while 14 percent reported the problem of not wanting to go alone. Again, 14 percent reported the problem of ignorance of where to go for treatment, while one in ten women complained of the bottlenecks in getting permission to visit hospitals [UNICEF, 2001].
Furthermore, majority of births in Nigeria (66 percent) occur at home [ORC Macro,2004] and only one-third of live births during the five years preceding the most recent demographic health survey occurred in a health facility [ORC Macro, 2004]. A smaller proportion of women receive postnatal care, which is crucial for monitoring and treating complications in the first two days after delivery [ORC Macro, 2004]. Only 23 percent of women who gave birth outside a health facility received postnatal care within two days of the birth of their last child [ORC Macro, 2004]. More than seven in ten women who delivered outside a health facility received no postnatal care at all [ORC Macro, 2004].
Maternal Health
According to WHO "Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. While motherhood is often a positive and fulfilling experience, for too many women it is associated with suffering, ill-health and even death"
Major Causes of maternal mortality are haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour.
Major Causes of maternal mortality are haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour.
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