An Assessment of Policies and Programs for Reducing Maternal Mortality in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to identify and document the nature of current policy framework and programs for addressing maternal health in Borno state. In-depth interviews were conducted with key officers of the Borno State Ministry of Health, and available hospital data and other existing documents were reviewed. The results as well as those of the 2008 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), and surveys conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) indicate that Borno has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the country (1,600/100,000 live births). Although Borno state government has a policy on free maternal health care, the programme is not officially gazetted; it reaches only a few women; and is poorly funded. Several international development partners are active in the state but are increasingly concerned by the lack of official policies and the inadequate budgetary allocation for addressing the high rate of maternal mortality in the state. We conclude that increased political will is needed to address the inordinately high rate of maternal mortality in Borno State. (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[2]: 49-54).

Key words: Maternal mortality, Borno state, Free maternal health care, northern Nigeria.