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Background or Objectives: Despite the global decline in maternal mortality within the last decade, women continue to die excessively from pregnancy-related complicationsin developing countries. We assessed the trends in maternal mortality, fetal mortality and cesarean section (C-Section) rates within 25 selected Nigerian hospitals over the last decade., Methods: Basic obstetric data on all deliveries were routinely collected by midwives using the maternity record book developed for the project in all the participating hospitals. Trends of C-Section Rates (CSR), Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR), Fetal Mortality Rates (FMR) and Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery rates (SVD) were calculated using joinpoint regression models., Results: The annual average percent change in CSR was 12.2%, which was statistically significant, indicating a rise in CSR over the decade of the study. There was a noticeable fall in MMR from a zenith of about 1,868 per 100,000 at baseline down to 1,315/100,000 by the end of the study period, representing a relative drop in MMR of about 30%. An average annual drop of 3.8% in FMR and 1.5% drop in SVD over time were noted over the course of the study period., Conclusion and Global Health Implications: We observed an overall CSR of 10.4% and a significant rise in CSR over the 9-year period (2008-2016) of about 108% across hospital facilities in Nigeria. Despite the decrease in MMR, it was still high compared to the global average of 546 maternal deaths per 100 000 livebirths. The FMR was also high compared with the global average. The MMR found in this study clearly indicates that Nigeria is far behind in making progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SGD 3) which aims to reduce the global MMR to less than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests: None., (Copyright © 2020 Galadanci et al.) more...

Objective: The objective of this study was to monitor the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in 19 general hospitals after introducing quality assurance in four states in Nigeria., Methods: Data collection with a structured maternity record book started in 2008 in ten rural hospitals in Kano and Kaduna State. In 2011, five hospitals from Federal Capital Territory Abuja were added, whilst in 2013 four hospitals were added from Ondo State. The routine data collection was conducted by experienced midwives and supervised by obstetricians from each of the states. However, the data from all four states were collated centrally at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for analysis., Results: From 2008 to 2013, 121,808 deliveries were evaluated; MMR fell from 1380 to 360/100,000 in Kaduna State, whilst for Kano State there was a gradual reduction of MMR from 2100/100,000 in 2008 to 1070/100,000 in 2011, and then it increased to 2150/100,000 in 2013. Ondo state had the lowest MMR of 180/100,000 in 2013 followed by Abuja with 240/100,000. The median cesarean section rate was 8.19%, (range 0.97-22.53%), eclampsia/preeclampsia was 4.43% (range 0-56.55%), and postpartum hemorrhage was 3.36% (range 0.81-11.4%)., Conclusions: Quality assurance in rural hospitals generates the awareness necessary to improve maternal health and lead to reduction of MMR. more...