Concept of Abiye Programme in Ondo State: an Effective Strategy for Maternal Mortality Reduction in Nigeria
Category : Uncategorized
Gbemisola, Bolanle Ogbeye
Directorate of Health Services
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, NigeriaEmail:gbemisolaogbeye@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Every day, approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Nigeria as a country is the second largest contributor to under-five and maternal mortality rate in the world showing poor health indices in relation to maternal and child health. Within the southwestern part of Nigeria, Ondo State was proclaimed by the National demographic health survey of 2008 to have the worst maternal and child health care indices, with maternal mortality ratio of 765 per 100,000 live births. This motivated the Ondo State Government to develop an innovative program called ‘Abiye’ programme meaning safe motherhood for pregnant women and children under 5 with the aim of addressing the four delays that predisposes to maternal deaths as well as meeting the MDGs 4&5. Evaluation of the program during the pre-Abiye period ((Jan-Dec 2009) and post- Abiye period (Jan 2010-Sept 2011) showed an increase in Antenatal registrations from 240 to 4,693, increase in facility delivery from 98 to 1,668 and TBA/Mission house deliveries decreased from 160 to 32 just in the first eighteen months. There was a great reduction in maternal mortality from 765 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2009 to 112 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016. As a result of this, World Health Organisation, and Health funding bodies like the World Bank have commended the programme and recommended it for adoption towards mitigating the rise in Maternal and Child Mortality in Africa. However, the major challenge is the sustainability of the programme.
Key Words: Abiye, Maternal Mortality, Safe motherhood.
