A community-based investigation of the avoidable factors of maternal mortality in Nigeria: the pilot experience.

Background: Reduction of maternal mortality is one of the major goals of several recent international conferences and has been included within the Millennium Development Goals. However, because measuring maternal mortality is difficult and complex, reliable estimates of the dimensions of the problem are not generally available and assessing progress towards the goal is difficult in some countries. Reliable baseline data are crucial to effectively track progress and measure that targets or goals of reducing maternal mortality have been met.
Objectives: The objectives of this pilot study were: to test adequacy of research instruments; to improve research techniques; to determine an appropriate workload; to determine the time required for interviews; and to assess the feasibility of a (full-scale) study/survey.
Methods: This pilot study was conducted between 11(th) April and 22(nd) April 2005. 420 houses were visited and interviews of 420 respondents between the ages of 15-49 were conducted in a randomly pre-selected Local Government Area of Oyo state using a structured instrument developed using the principles of the Sisterhood Method.
Results: There was willingness of the public to participate in the study. The response rate was 100%. There was no issue raised as regards the structure, wording and translation of the questionnaire. This pilot study uncovered local political problems and other issues that may be encountered during the main study.
Conclusions: The pilot raised a number of fundamental issues related to the process of designing the research instrument, identifying and recruiting Data Collectors, training and supervision of Data Collectors and the research project, gaining access to respondents and obtaining support and approval from "gatekeepers". This paper highlights the lessons learned and reports practical issues that occurred during pilot study.