A new global health report has revealed that Nigeria accounts for approximately 20 per cent of global maternal deaths, underscoring persistent challenges in maternal healthcare delivery and access to essential medical services. The findings have drawn renewed attention to the country’s maternal death rate, which remains among the highest globally despite ongoing interventions.
The report indicates that the maternal death rate in Nigeria is driven by a combination of factors including limited access to skilled birth attendants, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, delays in emergency obstetric care, and socioeconomic barriers affecting pregnant women, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Health experts note that the maternal death rate reflects broader systemic issues within the national health system, including shortages of healthcare workers, insufficient funding for primary healthcare centres, and uneven distribution of medical facilities across states. These challenges continue to affect the ability of women to access timely and quality maternal care.
According to global health data referenced in the report, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the majority of maternal deaths worldwide, with Nigeria contributing the largest share within the region. The country’s population size, combined with gaps in healthcare delivery systems, has been identified as a key factor influencing the high maternal death rate.
Medical professionals have repeatedly emphasized that most maternal deaths are preventable through timely access to antenatal care, skilled delivery services and emergency obstetric interventions. However, many women in Nigeria still give birth outside formal health facilities due to distance, cost, or lack of awareness, further worsening the maternal death rate.
The report also highlights disparities between urban and rural areas, noting that maternal healthcare outcomes are significantly better in urban centres where medical facilities and trained personnel are more readily available. In contrast, rural communities continue to experience limited access to essential maternal health services.
Government and development partners have implemented various initiatives aimed at reducing maternal mortality, including free maternal healthcare programmes in some states, expanded immunisation coverage, and training of midwives and community health workers. Despite these efforts, progress in reducing the maternal death rate has remained slow.
Public health analysts stress that achieving meaningful reductions will require sustained investment in primary healthcare systems, improved referral mechanisms, and stronger community-based health education. They also point to the importance of addressing underlying factors such as poverty, transportation barriers, and cultural practices that discourage facility-based deliveries.
International organisations continue to work with Nigerian authorities to support maternal and child health programmes, focusing on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving access to life-saving interventions for pregnant women and newborns.
