Nigeria’s maternal and infant mortality has remained one of the highest in the world and a source of concern to many people. WINIFRED OGBEBO examines the issue and the steps taken to address it. Nigeria constitutes just one percent of the world’s population but accounts for 10 percent of the world’s maternal and under-5 mortality rate despite several efforts that have been made at reducing the incidences and generally improve maternal and child health. A woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria is 1 in 13 compared to 1 in 5000 in developed countries, with only about 40 percent of deliveries attended to by skilled birth attendants, according to the Integrated Maternal and Child Health Strategy of the Federal Ministry of Health. The 2008 figures from the National Demographic and Health Survey estimated Nigeria’s overall maternal mortality ratio at 565/100,000 live births.

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