MATERNAL MORTALITY

Maternal mortality is an important indicator for women’s programmes and reproductive health programmes in the country. Maternal mortality is used in assessing the health status of a population and is an aspect of adult mortality that is of particular interest in the Nigerian context. Worldwide, the 10 countries with the highest maternal mortality ratios are in Africa, and an estimated 14 percent of maternal deaths globally occur in Nigeria (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa [UNECA], 2013).

Data from Nigeria’s Five-Year Countdown Strategy for achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) show that although maternal mortality fell from 800 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2003 to 545 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008, progress related to this goal has been slow and challenges remain.

In addition to other interventions designed to reduce maternal mortality and achieve the then MDG target of 250 deaths per 100,000 live births in Nigeria, the government, in collaboration with development partners, has continued to improve access to quality maternal health services through the Community Health Insurance Scheme and the Midwives Service Scheme.