When primary healthcare facilities are available but mothers look the other way: Maternal mortality in Northern Nigeria

TY - JOUR

T1 - When primary healthcare facilities are available but mothers look the other way

T2 - Maternal mortality in Northern Nigeria

AU - Mohammed, Aliyu

AU - Agwu, Prince

AU - Okoye, Uzoma

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

PY - 2020/1/2

Y1 - 2020/1/2

N2 - Poor maternal health outcomes are reported commonplace in Northern Nigeria in spite of a relatively efficient distribution of primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the grassroot. There is need to understand why such availability of PHCs is yet to translate into improved maternal health for the region in line with global health goals. Thus, this article investigates factors that affect utilization of PHCs by maternal-aged women in Niger-east senatorial zone in Niger State, Nigeria. Data were sourced from 48 respondents comprising pregnant women, nursing mothers and health workers. Data were analyzed thematically. From our findings, occurrences of maternal mortality abound in the study area as a result of the disparity between availability and utilization of maternal health services offered by PHCs in the location. Influential factors include culture, support networks, policy and equipment gaps, economic challenges, and attitude of health workers. We recommend the engagement of social workers to galvanize a blend of upstream, midstream and downstream public health interventions in order to address these influential factors and achieve positive maternal health outcomes for Nigeria in future.

AB - Poor maternal health outcomes are reported commonplace in Northern Nigeria in spite of a relatively efficient distribution of primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the grassroot. There is need to understand why such availability of PHCs is yet to translate into improved maternal health for the region in line with global health goals. Thus, this article investigates factors that affect utilization of PHCs by maternal-aged women in Niger-east senatorial zone in Niger State, Nigeria. Data were sourced from 48 respondents comprising pregnant women, nursing mothers and health workers. Data were analyzed thematically. From our findings, occurrences of maternal mortality abound in the study area as a result of the disparity between availability and utilization of maternal health services offered by PHCs in the location. Influential factors include culture, support networks, policy and equipment gaps, economic challenges, and attitude of health workers. We recommend the engagement of social workers to galvanize a blend of upstream, midstream and downstream public health interventions in order to address these influential factors and achieve positive maternal health outcomes for Nigeria in future.

KW - maternal mortality

KW - northern-Nigeria

KW - Primary healthcare

KW - social work

KW - Universal Health Coverage

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85079382609

U2 - 10.1080/19371918.2020.1726850

DO - 10.1080/19371918.2020.1726850

M3 - Article

C2 - 32050855

AN - SCOPUS:85079382609

SN - 1937-1918

VL - 35

SP - 11

EP - 20

JO - Social Work in Public Health

JF - Social Work in Public Health

IS - 1-2

ER -