Socio-cultural factors in maternal morbidity and mortality: a study of a semi-urban community in southern Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To understand community based or socio-cultural factors that determine maternal morbidity and mortality in a semi-urban setting.


METHODS
The study is an exploratory multidisciplinary operations research and the instruments were focus groups and interviews.


METHODS
Ekpoma, a semi-urban community with a population of 70,000 in central part of Edo state in southern Nigeria.


METHODS
Thirteen groups of women, two groups of men, and two groups of traditional birth attendants.


RESULTS
There is a fairly good knowledge of haemorrhage but this is circumscibed by attitudes, practices, and situations that keep women away from or delay the decision to seek modern obstetric care.


CONCLUSIONS
For a fuller understanding of maternal morbidity and mortality, it is important to consider factors outside the hospital and formal medical practice. Furthermore, a change of existing knowledge, attitudes, practices, and situations can be enhanced through modelling on them.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin, Nigeria.
C
C
Okolocha
J
J
Chiwuzie
S
S
Braimoh
J
J
Unuigbe
P
P
Olumeko
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008880:Midwifery; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D019037:Urban Health Services; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy