POVERTY AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN THE NIGERIAN RURAL ECONOMY: CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY

Abstract

Maternal death is associated with several factors. One such factor is poverty; the inability of individuals and households to have access to basic needs, especially health care services. Poverty directly affects child survival as it increases the chances of newborn death by 2-4 times. The loss of a woman in the prime and productive part of her life also adversely affects family income and increases the social-economic burden on the man and children. The study seeks to assess the implications of poverty on the maternal health of the Nigerian rural populace. Data are obtained primarily from secondary sources and evaluated using the content analytical technique. The analysis of secondary literature provides the direction for developing policy options significance in addressing poverty and improving maternal health among the vulnerable segment of the rural economy. The study concluded that poverty is the key determiner of maternal health and mortality among rural women. As a way forward, the government must design and implement policies to improve economic opportunities for a household in rural communities. These policies must be focused on the poorest segment of the rural communities.