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Abstract:
This study uses data from Demographic and
Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in Nigeria in
2003, 2008, and 2013 to assess levels and
trends in maternal health indicators. The
analysis focuses on four areas of indicators
directly related to the risk of maternal
mortality and morbidity: antenatal care and
its components; birth assistance and place of
delivery; postnatal care; and high-risk
fertility behaviors. The study examines
associations with socio-demographic
characteristics to assess differentials in
maternal health indicators across population
sub-groups. Substantial disparities in
maternal health indicators by wealth,
education, and between Northern and Southern
geopolitical zones were identified. Analysis
of trends shows significant changes between
the 2003 and 2013 surveys in some but not all
maternal health indicators. Generally,
significant improvements are concentrated
between the 2008 and 2013 surveys. Apparent
stagnation or modest improvement in some
indicators between 2003 and 2013 masks a
general pattern of deterioration before 2008
followed by significant recovery between 2008
and 2013. All four antenatal care indicators—
four or more antenatal care visits, antenatal
care by four months of pregnancy, iron
supplementation, and tetanus toxoid
immunization—showed significant improvements
between 2008 and 2013. By contrast, there
were no overall improvements over the study
period in delivery care (facility-based
delivery, skilled attendance at birth,
cesarean section rates), postnatal care
(postnatal check-up within two days after
childbirth), or high-risk fertility (young or
older maternal age, high-parity births, and
short birth intervals).
Trends in Maternal Health in Nigeria, 2003-2013 (PDF, 1149K)