Maternal Health Status in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria
Abstract
Maternal health, encompassing the physical and emotional well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, remains a critical issue in Nigeria, a country facing significant healthcare challenges. Despite being Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 512 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, representing approximately 14% of global maternal deaths. Key factors contributing to this crisis include complications such as hemorrhage, infections, and eclampsia, alongside a shortage of trained healthcare personnel, particularly in rural areas. Socio-economic disparities further exacerbate the problem. The study discovered that 62.8% of the respondents in this study are unemployed and 42.8% earning less than ₦20,000 per month, restricting their ability to access healthcare. Also, 59.1% of respondents are married, while a significant proportion (32.2%) are aged 20-29 years and 30% are under 20, highlighting trends of early marriage and childbearing. The findings revealed that 44.4% of respondents prefer traditional birth attendants over medical professionals, reflecting a deep-rooted trust in traditional practices. Similarly, accessibility issues are evident, with 61.9% reporting poor infrastructure and long travel distances to healthcare facilities, while 79.4% cite financial barriers. Also, employment instability affects 47.8% of respondents, which further limiting access to care. Widespread dissatisfaction with service quality is reported, with only 18.1% rating healthcare services as excellent. Conclusively, these findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive, community-based interventions that address socio-economic, infrastructural, and cultural barriers to maternal health in Nigeria.
Downloads
References
Adamu, S. A., Garba, I., & Yusuf, H. (2019). Maternal health challenges in Nigeria: A review. Journal of Public Health Research, 8(2), 149-157.
Adeloye, D., Wabiri, N., Auta, A., Omoregbe, N., Dos Santos, R., Omoyeni, O., & David, R. (2022). Improving maternal and newborn health services through government-led partnerships: Evidence from Gombe State, Nigeria. Journal of Global Health Reports, 6, e2022068. Available at: PMC.
Ahmed, M. O., & Msughter, A. E. (2022). Assessment of the spread of fake news of Covid-19 amongst social media users in Kano State, Nigeria. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 6, 100189.
Airaoje, O. K., Aondover, E. M., Obada, A. A., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Ridwan, M. (2024). High Incidence of Different Drug Uses and Media Campaign on the Injection Method in Borno State, Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(4), 242-258.
Airaoje, O. K., Obada, A. A., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension. Humanities, 3(2), 9-16.
Airaoje, O. K., Ogunbola, O., Falobi, F., Obada, A., & Eric, M. (2024). Scoping Review on Factors Associated with Continuity of Treatment among People Living with HIV in Nigeria. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 57(3), 49283-49292.
Aliough, T. D., Ovey, I. J., & Aondover, E. M. (2023). Examining perceptions of Kwande residents on traditional songs aired on Ashiwaves radio station for curbing the COVID-19 pandemic in Benue State. Environment and Public Health Research, 1(1), 1448-1448.
Ameh, C. A., Kerr, R., Madaj, B., Mdegela, M., Kana, T., Jones, S., ... & van den Broek, N. (2015). Knowledge and skills of healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia before and after competency-based training in emergency obstetric and early newborn care. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15(1), 282. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0722-0
Amin, M., & Islam, A. M. (2022). The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Women’s Employment. Policy Research Working Paper, 10188.
Aondover, E. M., Daushe, A. U., Ogunbola, O., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Media Coverage of Internally Displaced Persons in two Selected Newspapers in Nigeria. Journal of Migration and Health, 100301.
Bawa, S. B., Umar, U. S., & Onadeko, M. O. (2004). Utilization of obstetric care services in a rural community in Northeast Nigeria. Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 3(4), 111–116. Available at: AJOL.
Bhutta, Z. A., Das, J. K., Bahl, R., Lawn, J. E., Salam, R. A., Paul, V. K., ... & Lancet Newborn Interventions Review Group (2018). Can available interventions end preventable deaths in mothers, newborn babies, and stillbirths, and at what cost? The Lancet, 384(9940), 347-370.
Bigby, J., Anthony, J., Hsu, R., Fiorentini, C., & Rosenbach, M. (2020). Recommendations for maternal health and infant health quality improvement in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Medicaid & CHIP Maternal and Infant Health Quality Improvement.
Birmeta, K., Dibaba, Y., & Woldeyohannes, D. (2013). Determinants of maternal health service utilization in Holeta town, central Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research, 13, 256.
Bohren, M. A., Vogel, J. P., Tuncalp, O., Fawole, B., Titiloye, M. A., Olutayo, A. O., & Gülmezoglu, A. M. (2019). Mistreatment of women during childbirth in Northeast Nigeria: A mixed-method study. Reproductive Health, 16(1), 123. Available at: Springer.
Campbell, O. M. R., Calvert, C., Testa, A., Strehlow, M., Benova, L., Keyes, E., & Ronsmans, C. (2016). The scale, scope, coverage, and capability of childbirth care. The Lancet, 388(10056), 2193-2208.
Citaristi, I. (2022). United Nations Population Fund—UNFPA. In The Europa Directory of International Organizations 2022 (pp. 293-296). Routledge.
Engels, F. (1845). The Condition of the Working Class in England. London: Panther Edition.
Fayehun, O. (2021). Economic barriers to maternal healthcare in Nigeria. Global Health Action, 14(1), 1883436. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1883436
Federal Ministry of Health [FMOH]. (2010). Midwives Service Scheme (MSS): Ensuring access to skilled care in rural areas. Abuja: FMOH.
Federal Ministry of Health. (2019). National Strategic Health Development Plan 2018-2022. Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria.
Federal Ministry of Health. (2019). National strategic health development plan II (2018-2022). Abuja, Nigeria.
Gabrysch, S., & Campbell, O. M. (2009). Still too far to walk: Literature review of the determinants of delivery service use. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 9(1), 1-18.
Gernah, D. I., Ochejele, S. A., & Chukwukelu, E. E. (2018). Socioeconomic barriers to maternal health in Nigeria. Journal of Maternal Health Studies, 25(2), 98-107.
Heymann, J., Raub, A., & Earle, A. (2013). Creating and using maternity leave policies to improve maternal health. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 123(3), 94–97.
Hile, M. M., Msughter, A. E., & Babale, A. M. (2022). A Public Health Communication: Towards Effective Use of Social Marketing for Public Health Campaigns in Nigeria. Ann Community Med Prim Health Care, 5(1), 1002.
Izugbara, C. O., & Ukwayi, J. K. (2004). Traditional beliefs and practices in maternal healthcare among the Ibibio of Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 8(1), 24-37.
Jones, A., Smith, R., & Taylor, M. (2019). Community engagement and maternal health: Overcoming cultural barriers. Journal of Public Health, 41(3), 45–62.
Journal of Global Health Reports [JOGHR]. (2021). Closing the gap in maternal health access and quality through targeted investments in low-resource settings. Journal of Global Health Reports.
Kabia, E., Goodman, C., Balabanova, D., Muraya, K., Molyneux, S., & Barasa, E. (2021). The hidden financial burden of healthcare: a systematic literature review of informal payments in Sub-Saharan Africa. Wellcome Open Research, 6.
Khanna, P., & Kumaresan, M. (2024). Comprehensive Care for Women with Diabetes Mellitus and Gynecological Complications. In Management of Diabetic Complications: Calling for a Team Approach (pp. 193-204). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
Kiessling, K. A., Iott, B. E., Pater, J. A., Toscos, T. R., Wagner, S. R., Gottlieb, L. M., & Veinot, T. C. (2022). Health informatics interventions to minimize out-of-pocket medication costs for patients: what providers want. JAMIA open, 5(1), ooac007.
Kurfi, M. Y., Msughter, M. E., & Mohamed, I. (2021). Digital images on social media and proliferation of fake news on covid-19 in Kano, Nigeria. Galactica Media: Journal of Media Studies, 3(1), 103-124.
Mairiga, A. G., & Kawuwa, M. B. (2010). Community perceptions of maternal deaths in Borno State, Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 14(3), 65–70. Available at: AJOL.
Marmot, M., & Wilkinson, R. G. (2005). Social Determinants of Health. Oxford University Press.
Moller, A. B., Petzold, M., Chou, D., & Say, L. (2017). Early antenatal care visit: A systematic review of its impact on maternal health. PLOS ONE, 12(1), e0170176.
Msughter, A. E., & Phillips, D. (2020). Media framing of COVID-19 pandemic: A study of daily trust and vanguard newspapers in Nigeria. International Journal of Health, Safety and Environment (IJHSE), 6(5), 588-596.
Msughter, A. E., Kuchi, M. G., & Abba, A. A. (2023). Critical Discourse Analysis of Traditional Medicine Outdoor Advertising and Public Health Issues in Northern Nigeria. Indigenous Language for Social Change Communication in the Global South, 39.
Msughter, A.E., Yar'Adua, S.M., & Ogechi, A.P. (2022). Information seeking behavior on Covid-19 vaccine among residents of Fagge Local Government Area of Kano, Nigeria. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6 (9), 2526-2541.
Namadi, H. M., & Aondover, E. M. (2020). Survey of reproductive health information seeking behavior among pregnant women in some selected hospitals in Kano Metropolis. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res/BJSTR. DOI, 10, 1984-1987.
Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. (2018). National Population Commission and ICF International. Abuja, Nigeria.
Nwaeze, I. L., Enabor, O. O., & Fakeye, O. O. (2013). Barriers to accessing maternal health services in low-income settings. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 17(3), 42-49.
Obada, A. A., Airaoje, O. K., Okuneye, A. P., Collins-Dike, J., & Msughter, A. E. (2024). Media Role on the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria. Clin Case Rep Int. 2024; 8, 1652.
Obada, A. A., Msughter, A. E., Namadi, H. M., & Nongubee, T. (2021). Hyper prevalence of malnutrition in Nigerian context. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research , 39 (1), 30916-30925.
Obada, AA, Abba, AA, & Msughter, AE (2021). Pregnancy Induced Hypertension in Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research , 39 (4), 31458-31466.
Obi, S. N., & Ozumba, B. C. (2007). Factors affecting utilization of antenatal care services in Nigerian rural communities. Journal of Community Health, 32(3), 67-74.
Ogunyemi, D., Taiwo, A., & Adebayo, R. (2020). Barriers to accessing maternal healthcare in rural Nigeria. International Journal of Health Services, 50(3), 372–380. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731420926390
Okonofua, F. E., Ogu, R. N., Agholor, K. N., Okike, O. N., Abdus-Salam, R. A., Oginni, A. B., & Fabamwo, A. O. (2013). Barriers to safe motherhood in Nigeria: Findings from a survey in a semi-urban community in Northern Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 54(2), 76–81. Available at: AJOL.
Onarheim, K. H., Sisay, M. M., Gizaw, M., Moland, K. M., & Norheim, O. F. (2018). Closing the gaps in maternal health care in rural Ethiopia: A qualitative study. Global Health Research and Policy, 3(24). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-018-0066-y
Smith, B., Kumar, S., & Chen, L. (2021). Women's autonomy and maternal health outcomes in developing regions. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25(6), 789–798.
Solar, O., & Irwin, A. (2010). A Conceptual Framework for Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
UNICEF. (2020). Maternal health: UNICEF’s approach. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org
UNICEF. (2021). Education and maternal health: The critical link. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org
United Nations (2015). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2021). Maternal mortality in Nigeria: Statistics and policy. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/nigeria-maternal-mortality
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
Usman, B., Eric Msughter, A., & Olaitan Ridwanullah, A. (2022). Social media literacy: fake news consumption and perception of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 9(1), 2138011.
Virchow, R. (1848). Report on the Typhus Epidemic in Upper Silesia. American Journal of Public Health, 10(1), 51-59.
Warri, D., & George, A. (2020). Perceptions of pregnant women of reasons for late initiation of antenatal care: a qualitative interview study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 20, 1-12.
Witter, S., Garshong, B., & Adjei, S. (2009). Providing free maternal healthcare: Ten lessons from an evaluation of the national delivery exemption policy in Ghana. Global Health Action, 2(1), 1881.
World Bank. (2020). Nigeria’s healthcare system and the shortage of healthcare professionals. World Bank Report. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/nigeria-healthcare
World Health Organization (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Retrieved from https://www.who.int.
World Health Organization (2008). Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Geneva: WHO Press.
World Health Organization (2008). Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int.
World Health Organization (2019). Maternal health in Nigeria: Generating information for action. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization (2019). Standards for improving quality of maternal and newborn care in health facilities. Geneva: WHO.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Maternal health in low-income settings: Challenges and solutions. Geneva: WHO Publications.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Strengthening quality midwifery education for universal health coverage 2030. Geneva: WHO.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Improving maternal health through empowerment and education. Geneva: WHO Publications.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Maternal mortality in 2021: Key facts. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Maternal mortality in Nigeria: Key findings and progress. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/nigeria-maternal-health
World Health Organization. (2011). Evaluating the quality of care for severe pregnancy complications: the WHO near-miss approach for maternal health.
World Health Organization. (2021). Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2020: Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division. Geneva: WHO.
Copyright (c) 2025 Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.Penulis.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (Refer to The Effect of Open Access).
_.gif)
_.gif)
