Safe motherhood knowledge among women in rural communities in northern Nigeria and maternal mortality reduction

Maternal mortality in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. Variations in maternal mortality exist across Nigeria, with the greatest burden experienced by women living in rural areas and those in the North East and North West zones. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Birnin Gwari cluster in Kaduna State and Kunchi cluster in Kano State, in northern Nigeria, to understand baseline knowledge on safe motherhood, as part of the Partnership for Transforming Health Systems phase 2 (PATHS 2) programme. The study investigated socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history and knowledge of safe maternal care practices amongst rural women in northern Nigeria. Knowledge of safe motherhood practices included:

• knowledge of number and benefits of antenatal care visits
• maternal danger signs
• birth preparedness
• knowledge of benefits of delivering in a health facility with a skilled birth attendant

The study found that:

• over 90% of respondents in both states demonstrated poor knowledge of the benefits of delivering with a skilled birth attendant in a health facility
• 80% had poor knowledge of benefits of seeking antenatal care
• more than half had no knowledge of maternal danger signs

Analysis of the data found that ever attending school or attending antenatal care positively influenced women’s knowledge of maternal danger signs in both states.The authors concluded that poor levels of knowledge about safe motherhood practices existed amongst women in rural northern Nigeria. Improved knowledge of safe pregnancy practices was strongly associated with attending antenatal care, employment and achieving some level of education.  In addition, authors felt that the community-based interventions (including PATHS 2’s Safe Motherhood Initiative Demand-led) intervention would improve knowledge levels, leading to safer pregnancy and delivery practices.To read the article for free, click here> No subscription required.Okereke, E., Aradeon, S., Akerele, A., Tanko, M., Yisa, I., & Obonyo, B. (2013). Knowledge of safe motherhood among women in rural communities in northern Nigeria: implications for maternal mortality reduction. Reproductive Health, 10(1), 57.