Maternal Mortality among Women of Childbearing Age in South-East Senatorial Zone, Rivers State from 2013-2016

Abstract

The study investigated maternal mortality among women of childbearing age in South-East senatorial zone of Rivers State. The study adopted descriptive survey design. A sample size of 146 respondents, consisting of 21 medical doctors, 110 public health nurses/midwives, and 15 medical record officers was selected, using multi-stage sampling procedures. A self-structured questionnaire was used for data collection, with a reliability value of r=80, using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). Five research questions guided the study and four hypotheses were postulated and tested at .05 alpha level. Frequency and simple percentage were used to answer the research questions, while chi-square was employed to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study were that there was high prevalence of maternal mortality among the women of childbearing age in South East Senatorial zone from 2013-2016, occurring majorly twice a month; and that there was significant difference in maternal mortality among the women based on age, parity, level of education except occupation. The study recommended among others, that Ministry of Education in conjunction with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women Affairs should organize seminars and workshops in health facilities, churches/mosques, and town halls to enlighten women, and even men on causes and prevention of maternal deaths; and there should be aggressive public enlightenment, sensitization and awareness campaign on child and maternal health and how to prevent maternal mortality by Ministry of Information and other relevant stakeholders, using different traditional or conventional and social and mass media platforms. Keywords: Maternal Mortality, women of childbearing age.