Reshaping maternal services in Nigeria: any need for spiritual care?

Abiodun I Adanikin,Akinyemi A Akintayo,Uche Onwudiegwu

doi:10.1186/1471-2393-14-196

Abstract

BackgroundHigh maternal and perinatal mortalities occur from deliveries conducted in prayer houses in Nigeria. Although some regulatory efforts have been deployed to tackle this problem, less attention has been placed on the possible motivation for seeking prayer house intervention which could be hinged on the spiritual belief of patients about pregnancy and childbirth. This study therefore seeks to determine the perception of booked antenatal patients on spiritual care during pregnancy and their desire for such within hospital setting.MethodA total of 397 antenatal attendees from two tertiary health institutions in southwest Nigeria were sampled. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic features of respondents, perception of spiritual care during pregnancy and childbirth; and how they desire that their spiritual needs are addressed. Responses were subsequently collated and analyzed.ResultsMost of the women, 301 (75.8%), believe there is a need for spiritual help during pregnancy and childbirth. About half (48.5%) were currently seeking for help in prayer/mission houses while another 8.6% still intended to. Overwhelmingly, 281 (70.8%) felt it was needful for health professionals to consider their spiritual needs. Most respondents, 257 (64.7%), desired that their clergy is allowed to pray with them while in labour and sees such collaboration as incentive that will improve hospital patronage. There was association between high family income and desire for collaboration of healthcare providers with one’s clergy (OR 1.82; CI 1.03-3.21; p = 0.04).ConclusionOur women desire spiritual care during pregnancy and childbirth. Its incorporation into maternal health services will improve hospital delivery rates.

Highlights

High maternal and perinatal mortalities occur from deliveries conducted in prayer houses in Nigeria
Most of the women, 301 (75.8%), believe there is a need for spiritual help during pregnancy and childbirth
This study aims to determine from the booked antenatal patients their perception of spiritual care during pregnancy and childbirth and how they desire it is addressed. Knowledge of this might engender policy on maternal services that will enhance hospital patronage and delivery among women. This multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st of February and 31st of May, 2013 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit of Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, southwest Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

High maternal and perinatal mortalities occur from deliveries conducted in prayer houses in Nigeria. Some regulatory efforts have been deployed to tackle this problem, less attention has been placed on the possible motivation for seeking prayer house intervention which could be hinged on the spiritual belief of patients about pregnancy and childbirth. Gradual dehumanization of the maternity services has occurred overtime with little attention paid to patients’ psychosocial supports of which spiritual care is integral. There has been increasing interest in the relationship between spirituality and clinical care in the last two decades [2,3]. This is because it is believed that a whole person has physical, emotional, social and spiritual. Notwithstanding, there is no consensus on the role medics can play in attending to patients’ spiritual needs [4,6,8]

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