Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Rates among Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Care at Imo State Tertiary Health Institutions

Abstract

Background: The study examined maternal mortality and morbidity rates among pregnant mothers that received antenatal care at tertiary health institutions in Imo State.

Methods: The study adopted the retrospective and descriptive survey research designs. 9,651 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu and Imo State Specialist Hospital Umuguma all in Imo State, Nigeria constituted the population of the study. Sample sizes of 384 and 528 pregnant women for the descriptive and retrospective studies were used. Data Abstraction Instrument on Determined Factor Effect and Preventive Measure Questionnaire (DFEPMQ) were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by experts in data extraction and Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the 2nd instrument was ascertained using the Cronbach’s Alpha reliability method and 0.81 was the reliability index obtained. A standard hospital profoma was used for relevant information abstraction from the health institutions while the investigator employed direct methods to collect responses using the questionnaires. The SPSS version 29.0.1while and t-test were used to analyze the results.

Results: The study showed high maternal mortality and morbidity in health institutions in Imo State, Nigeria and the rates were higher in rural than urban areas among others.

Conclusions: A functional Health Insurance Scheme at the community level can increase substantial resources to provide health care to women, the government should employ qualified health professionals and provide medical subsidy among others.

Keywords: Mortality, Morbidity, Pregnant women, Ant-natal care, Health Institutions