Maternal Mortality And Access To Primary Health Care In Niger East Senatorial Zone, Niger State Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The general objective of the study was to examine maternal mortality and access to Primary

Health Care (PHC) in Niger East Senatorial Zone, Niger State Nigeria. The study adopted a

cross sectional survey design. The sample size of 1,445 respondents (women of reproductive

age) was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. The major survey instrument was

questionnaire, complemented byFocus Group Discussions (FGD) and In-Depth Interviews

(IDI). Quantitativedata were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and interpret the data. Qualitative

data were analyzed using thematic method. Verbatim quotes were used to complement the

results of the quantitative data. The findings revealed that: level of education, who takes

decision on health matter, income and age were determinants of access to maternal health

service in PHC. There was significant relationship between socioeconomic index of women

household and access maternal health services in PHC (P0.05).The four major ways in which maternal mortality can be

mitigated are: an effective poverty alleviation programme; employment and deployment of

qualified health personnel to PHC facilities especially those located in rural areas; ensuring

services and drugs are made free to pregnant women in all PHC facilities; and provision of modern medical equipment in PHC facilities.

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