title: Policy strategies to improve maternal health services delivery and outcomes in Anambra State, Nigeria.
abstract: Pregnancy and childbirth present major health risks for Nigerian women. Key maternal mortality measures indicate that the risks are high. Despite improvement efforts, the country has made insufficient progress in reaching the United Nations' millennium development goal of decreasing maternal mortality by 75% by 2015. The author in this qualitative descriptive study explores the perspectives of experienced nurse leaders on policy strategies to improve maternal health in Nigeria. In this study, the author suggests that removal of financial barriers to access and utilization of health services, spousal and family inclusiveness in plan of care, and health systems-related physical and human infrastructural improvements constitute critical policy approaches.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing and Health Studies , University of Washington Bothell , Bothell , Washington , USA.
authors.forename: Mabel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ezeonwu
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health