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Women's and health-care providers' views of maternal practices and services in rural Nigeria.

Abstract：

:Maternal mortality and morbidity estimates in Nigeria continue to be dramatically high largely because maternal services, especially in rural areas, are often deficient and inappropriate to women's situations. The Safe Motherhood Project in Zone A examined the pregnancy-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community members, and women's use of community maternal health services. Focus-group discussions and interviews confirmed a number of recent findings by other studies; they also documented extensive hostility between the two most commonly used health-care providers: traditional birth attendants and midwives. The hostility resulted in rumors, deliberate attempts to discourage women from seeking higher levels of care, and refusals to accept referrals or treat patients, which were found to be serious constraints to good maternal care in the targeted rural area. :Maternal mortality and morbidity estimates in Nigeria continue to be dramatically high, primarily because maternal health services, especially in the rural areas, are often deficient and inappropriate to women's situations. The Safe Motherhood Project in Nigeria's Primary Health Care Zone A conducted a series of focus group discussions with community members and health providers to assess pregnancy-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and services. Results of the focus-group discussions and interviews confirmed the findings of other studies that community perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs were serious constraints to effective health care. Superstitions and misinformation about pregnancy are still common among practicing traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and women who have recently been pregnant (within the past two years) in Zone A. Both women and TBAs were unaware of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy complications, the causes and appropriate treatments. Men were primarily responsible for all decisions about pregnancy and childbirth, including the use of prenatal and delivery services. The extensive hostility which existed between TBAs and midwives often resulted in rumors, deliberate attempts to discourage women from seeking higher levels of care, and refusals to accept referrals or treat patients, and seriously affected good maternal care in the rural areas. The following steps were recommended to improve the existing community health services in Zone A: 1) appropriate equipment for maternity centers and additional training for midwives; 2) training, supervision, and supplies for birth attendants; 3) improved relations and coordination between TBAs and formal health services; 4) broad-based community health education; 5) special health education campaigns for TBAs and church sisters; and 6) improved administrative and management practices within the health system.

journal_name

Stud Fam Plann

journal_title

Studies in family planning

authors

Okafor CB,Rizzuto RR

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

1994-11-01 00:00:00

pages

353-61

issue

6 Pt 1

eissn

0039-3665

issn

1728-4465

journal_volume

pub_type

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Women's and health-care providers' views of maternal practices and services in rural Nigeria.