20 March 2026
Oladimeji Solomon Yemi and Safiya Shuaibu Isa

Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of maternal deaths globally, with a maternal mortality rate of 993 deaths per 100,000 live births. While maternal mortality has declined globally over the past two decades, Nigeria has lagged behind both regional and global trends. In contrast, countries such as Ghana, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, which once faced similar challenges, have made significant gains by investing in skilled birth attendance, strengthening primary health care, and improving referral systems.

In Nigeria, community-informed maternal death reviews carried out between May 2019 and May 2020 show that many maternal deaths occurred outside formal health facilities, including at home, in traditional birth attendant (TBA) settings, or in faith-based centres. Even when facility-based deaths occur, they are often the result of delayed referrals rather than isolated failures of clinical care. Communities point to poor access to quality services, shortages of skilled health workers, weak referral systems, long distances to care, and persistent cultural beliefs as key drivers of maternal mortality.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202603200231.html