Trends and Patterns of Maternal Mortality in Nigeria: Any link with Economic Growth?

Abstract

By recent WHO records, Nigeria is the third most unsafe place in the world to procreate as it’s one of the leading countries with the worst maternal mortality rates after South Sudan and Chad. This study was conducted to assess the trends and patterns of maternal mortality in Nigeria and to determine if it has any association with economic growth. Ordinary least squares regression was employed in the study and findings showed that a significant increase in female life expectancy (p<0.01) and economic growth (p<0.05) leads to a reduction in maternal mortality. However, increase in female fertility rate (p<0.01), life time risk of maternal death (p<0.01) and neonatal mortality rates (p<0.01) significantly leads to an increase in maternal mortality in Nigeria. Policies that will encourage economic growth effectively are recommended. Adequate funding should be granted the health sector to provide facilities for quality health care delivery. More education on family planning should be made available to women of reproductive ages in Nigeria.