Historical Overview of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Challenges in a Developing Economy-The Case Of Nigeria

Abstract

Maternal morbidity and mortality, neonatal mortality and prenatal death ratio rates are annually increasing with alarming proportion in Nigeria. Unhesistantly, history has continued to point at issues of over bearing ignorance on the part of the public, lackadaisical behavior by the government, including the overriding problems of pathophysiological challenges inherent in that sector. Facts are essential for balanced obsterics practice, but understanding is also required which cannot be derived solely from a book. Be that as it may, historical annals are inundated with incidental informations that are quite informing and educative. Arresting the colossal problems and decay emanent from this sector is simply beyond textbook analysis, while mere attention to patients in the labour wards and clinics may appear a peripheral attack. Record books and registers in many health establishments, whether private or government-owned are existing testimonies of litanies of unplanned abortions, stillbirths, maternal deaths, among others. Many newborns are lost even before their one year birth anniversary. Could one overlook the issue of paucity and poverty of trained staff and personnel vis a vis professionalism, economic gains and exploitation. Laboratory personnels must sell and thrive in their Blood bank business against the better option of detailing and managing pregnant mothers to make their own blood; caesarian section is economically viable to doctors quite against tailoring patients to steer-off incubating big babies, or going through the painful throes of labour. Deaths from complications of normal delivery in Nigerian health institutions and establishments are a re-occurring decimal. Nigerian development in the area of maternal and child health must be re-strategized and restructured on the pedestral of indigent checks and balances hinged on globally accepted best practices, but steered by purposeful intervention, supervision and governance. Recourse to history is very important at this stage because the national prognosis appears poor.
Key words: Maternal newborn/morbidity; maternal newborn/mortality; Focused antenatal services; Traditional birth attendants; Integration