Daily, women die while giving life in Nigeria. Experts say there is need to change the narrative by using innovative approaches to increase access to better quality maternal care toward ensuring reduction in maternal deaths in the country. According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS), the country’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) […]
Smiles for Mothers, FMoH partner to make deliveries safer through human-centered design
DESPITE efforts by successive governments to reduce maternal deaths in the country, the figures continue to rise. Indeed, in recent years, the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken critical steps to improve maternal health outcomes.
According to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2018), Nigeria continues to bear the highest burden of maternal deaths worldwide, with 19 per cent (58,000) of global maternal deaths occurring in the country every year, and 512 maternal deaths with every 100,000 live births. Within the country, regional disparities exist and reveal high maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) of up to 1,625 and 1,463 deaths per 100,000 live births in northern states such as Kano and Niger respectively; and a MMR of 555 in southern states such as Lagos.