The Problem

The high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria is due to numerous causes which can be classified as either direct or indirect obstetric. Studies have shown that flaws in the health care system and hostilities between midwives and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are contributing to the high rate of MM in Nigeria. Nigeria accounts for 20% of the global maternal death rates with a maternal mortality ratio of 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020.

In addition to the women who die, there is a substantial number of women who experience severe maternal morbidity due to obstetric complications. Recent evidence from a national surveillance study in tertiary hospitals highlighted that some causes include significant deficiencies in the prevention, identification and referral of severe morbidities at primary health centres (PHCs), barriers to appropriate care-seeking at the community level, a dearth of critical emergency obstetric care skills amongst clinicians managing pregnancy and poor uptake from community members.

When women experience significant morbidity and mortality during childbirth, it further impacts the health and development of the next generation and their families economically and socially with long-lasting ripple effects on their larger community.

Our Solution

The Iyaloju Initiative intervention is a system-directed and multifaceted approach that seeks to address the maternal needs of urban poor women by targeting some root causes of the obstacles they face in accessing high-quality and respectful maternal care. The approach includes Improving service delivery through Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) training for clinicians, including nurses, midwives and doctors and Respectful Maternal Care (RMC) training for all PHC staff; Generate demand for facility care through participatory discussions with women in our host communities; Supporting the health management information system through training of Data Managers and Records officers; and Involvement of local stakeholders through data use and evidence-based decision-making workshops with health agency leadership and policy stakeholders.