Childbirth practices in Nigeria vary between urban and rural areas, traditional and modern medicine, and among ethnic and religious groups.[1] As the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria has one of the highest fertility rates, with an estimate of 9.22 million births annually.[2] The country faces significant challenges in maternal and child health, accounting for approximately 20% of global maternal deaths.[3]
Traditional beliefs and practices play a significant role in childbirth across Nigeria. In many rural areas, women rely on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) who offer culturally accepted methods and home delivery services. Herbal remedies, spiritual rituals, and postnatal confinement are common among various ethnic groups.[4][5]
In contrast, urban areas show an increasing reliance on hospital births and trained midwives. However, traditional beliefs may still influence decision-making around antenatal care and delivery location.[6][7]
Healthcare access and facilities
The Nigerian healthcare system comprises public and private sectors, but access to quality maternal care is uneven. Urban centers tend to have better-equipped hospitals, trained professionals, and emergency services, while rural communities often lack such infrastructure.
Efforts to promote Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA)[8] and Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care[9] have had limited reach, particularly in northern regions. Poverty, transportation challenges, and low health literacy contribute to delays in seeking and receiving care.
Health Statistics
In Nigeria, there are an estimated 7-9 million babies born annually. Their fertility rate is approximately 4.8 children per woman, leading to a 221.2 million people in total.[10] This has led Nigeria to be one of the world's most populated countries. For comparison, the United States has an estimated 3.6 million babies born annually, with a fertility rate of 1.63 births per woman; that's a total population of 342 million.[11] Though the United States has a higher total population, Nigeria has a higher annual birth rate, leading to the importance of ensuring better health care. Nigeria is in need of infrastructure that not only supports the growing population but also the vast number of babies being born. Though a high birth rate for any country can indicate wealth and growth. It can also create problems with transportation in everyday life, including pregnant women. Due to the number of children born in the region, the safety of life and its protection of it are affected.
Government policies and initiatives
Several initiatives have aimed to reduce maternal and infant mortality:
National Health Policy: Promotes reproductive health services and access to skilled healthcare workers.
Midwives Service Scheme (MSS): Launched in 2009 to deploy midwives to rural communities.[12]
Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF): Seeks to improve funding for primary healthcare, including maternal care.[13]
International bodies such as the WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA collaborate with Nigeria to strengthen maternal health outcomes.
Challenges
Healthcare program struggles have been on the rise with the number of births that are occurring. Many women, whether through religious beliefs, lack of access to basic health care, or physical neglect, cannot afford coverage. Many individuals do not have basic health care; because of this, it causes many women to undergo child labor and childcare alone. Leading to the needed skilled birth attendants (SBA) and emergency obstetric and newborn care.
Health care in Nigeria is not in favor of birth attendants due to systemic issues. Some of these issues are the underfunding of programs, the lack of trust in healthcare providers/ hospitals, and chronic staff shortages. These all add a negative view of birth attendants, which in turn has affected birth health and care for newborns.
Despite progress, childbirth in Nigeria is fraught with challenges:
Maternal mortality: The annual rate for newborns in Nigeria is about 1047.2 deaths per 100,000 live births.[10]
Infant mortality: High rates, especially in underserved areas.
Gender inequality: Limits women's autonomy in health decisions.
Inadequate infrastructure: Shortage of hospitals, staff, and essential supplies.
Cultural barriers: Preference for traditional methods and skepticism toward modern healthcare.
Improvements and innovations
Mobile health (mHealth)[14] platforms, community health extension workers, and maternal education campaigns have shown promise in bridging gaps. Programs like MamaCare, Safe Motherhood Initiative, and others have helped increase awareness of safe delivery practices.[citation needed]
Conclusion
Childbirth in Nigeria reflects the broader socio-economic and healthcare disparities within the country. While policy reforms and public health campaigns have made strides, sustained investment and culturally sensitive interventions are necessary to improve maternal and child health outcomes across all regions.[citation needed]
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