Nigeria carries a heavy burden of maternal, newborn, and infant mortality. Understanding the basic metrics helps nurses grasp the scale of the public health challenge.
Most maternal and newborn deaths stem from preventable complications. Recognizing these direct causes allows clinical nurses to prioritize rapid, life-saving interventions.
Quality care during pregnancy and labor forms the bedrock of risk reduction. Antenatal care (ANC) visits provide opportunities for screening, health promotion, and disease prophylaxis such as intermittent preventive treatment for malaria and tetanus toxoid vaccination.
During the intrapartum period, skilled birth attendants utilize the partograph to monitor labor progress and maternal-fetal well-being. Active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL) is a proven clinical practice that significantly lowers the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage by administering uterotonics, performing controlled cord traction, and massaging the uterine fundus.
Immediate care given to a newborn directly influences survival rates. Every baby requires a clean delivery, thermal protection, early initiation of breastfeeding, and resuscitation if breathing is absent.
Prevention extends beyond the delivery room through routine immunization and nutritional support. The national immunization schedule protects infants against vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, measles, and diphtheria.
Nutritional counseling focuses on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the introduction of safe, nutrient-dense complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond. Micronutrient supplementation, including vitamin A and iron, guards against deficiency-related morbidity.
Many maternal and infant deaths happen outside health facilities due to the 'three delays model': delay in deciding to seek care, delay in reaching a care facility, and delay in receiving adequate treatment.
Community health extension workers and traditional birth attendants, when properly trained, help bridge the gap by identifying danger signs early and facilitating prompt referrals. Establishing functional emergency transport systems and community awareness networks ensures that women experiencing obstetric emergencies reach secondary or tertiary hospitals without fatal delays.