4 steps to better care

https://theconversation.com/maternity-health-services-in-nigeria-are-failing-women-4-steps-to-better-care-277647

Publish Date: 2026-03-31 10:07:00

Source Domain: theconversation.com

Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, much above the African regional average, indicating numerous women do not receive maternal healthcare.
Key reasons for this include disparities in geographic access to healthcare, socio-demographic factors like education and poverty, religious impacts on health-seeking behavior, lack of health information, and the absence of health insurance.
Several maternal health programs, including the National Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Strategy, have been implemented over the past two decades to improve access and reduce financial barriers.
Despite these efforts, progress in reducing maternal deaths has been uneven. Northern regions like the north-east and north-west have much higher mortality rates than the southern parts of the country.
To improve maternity services, four practical shifts are suggested: different region-specific interventions, bringing services closer to women, removing financial barriers, and leveraging digital health tools to widen access.
Region-specific interventions require addressing different cultural, religious, and geographic barriers, improving transport and health access, and strengthening culturally appropriate health education.
Services need to be brought closer to women, especially in rural areas, perhaps through more mobile health clinics and dedicated outreach teams providing health education and on-the-spot referrals.
Financial barriers must be tackled through expanding health insurance, enforcing policies against informal charges, and introducing financial incentives for poor women.
Digital health can play a critical role; with high internet and mobile phone penetration, digital platforms can provide reminders, education, support teleconsultations, and enhance risk screening using AI.
The next step is the targeted implementation of policies, aligning federal and state efforts, prioritizing funding, improving monitoring systems, and involving women in policy design.