Abstract
BackgroundMaternal mortality is still a major risk for women of childbearing age in Nigeria. In 2008, Nigeria bore 14% of the global burden of maternal mortality. The national maternal mortality ratio has remained elevated despite efforts to reduce maternal deaths. Though health disparities exist between the North and South of Nigeria, there is a dearth of evidence on the estimates and determinants of maternal mortality for these regions.MethodsThis study aimed to assess differences in the levels and determinants of maternal mortality in women of childbearing age (15–49 years) in the North and South of Nigeria. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (2008 and 2013) were used. The association between maternal mortality (outcome) and relevant sociocultural, economic and health factors was tested using multivariable logistic regression in a sample of 51,492 living or deceased women who had given birth.ResultsThere were variations in the levels of maternal mortality between the two regions. Maternal mortality was more pronounced in the North and increased in 2013 compared to 2008. For the South, the levels slightly decreased. Media exposure and education were associated with maternal mortality in the North while contraceptive method, residence type and wealth index were associated with maternal death in the South. In both regions, age and community wealth were significantly associated with maternal mortality.ConclusionsDifferences in the levels and determinants of maternal mortality between the North and South of Nigeria stress the need for efforts to cut maternal deaths through new strategies that are relevant for each region. These should improve education of girls in the North and access to health information and services in the South. Overall, new policies to improve women’s socioeconomic status should be adopted.
Highlights
Maternal mortality is still a major risk for women of childbearing age in Nigeria
* Correspondence: cmeh@uwo.ca 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada Full list of author information is available at the end of the article (SDG) 3, which seeks to significantly cut the number of deaths to 70 per 100,000 livebirths by 2030, led to the implementation of interventions to reduce the global burden of maternal mortality
Three percent of the sample consisted of maternal mortality cases of which, 751 and 810 maternal deaths were reported in 2008 and 2013 respectively
Summary
Maternal mortality is still a major risk for women of childbearing age in Nigeria. In 2008, Nigeria bore 14% of the global burden of maternal mortality. The national maternal mortality ratio has remained elevated despite efforts to reduce maternal deaths. Though health disparities exist between the North and South of Nigeria, there is a dearth of evidence on the estimates and determinants of maternal mortality for these regions. Maternal mortality continues to claim the lives of women of childbearing age worldwide. This problem remains a challenge for many countries that still struggle to prevent it. Over half a million annual maternal deaths propelled maternal mortality onto the international stage, where it became a global priority and the chosen outcome to assess progress on maternal health [1]. The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 to reduce the global burden of maternal death by 75% by 2015, and the recent Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which seeks to significantly cut the number of deaths to 70 per 100,000 livebirths by 2030, led to the implementation of interventions to reduce the global burden of maternal mortality
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