Review of Policy Initiatives on Maternal Mortality in Nigeria

One of the key measures of a nation’s overall health and well-being is the incidence of maternal mortality (Osunu, Ofili, and Nwose, 2021). The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which is estimated as a ratio per 100,000 live births in the survey population, is frequently used to quantify maternal mortality (WHO, 2019). According to statistics, 287,000 maternal fatalities were recorded worldwide in 2020, with sub-Saharan Africa having the greatest casualty count and Eastern Asia holding the least (Mhyre, 2020). According to the aforementioned statistic, there are 223 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, which translates to a 1 in 210-lifetime probability risk for any girl of reproductive age to die from pregnancy-related causes (Mhyre, 2020). This article addresses maternal mortality as a global health issue. It provides an in-depth overview of its epidemiology, stating prevalence rates based on global, regional, and local estimates. Postpartum bleeding, hypertensive problems in women, obstructed labor, unsafe abortions, and obstetric sepsis are some of the leading direct causes of maternal mortality (Von-Dadelszen and Magee, 2017). It also highlights risk factors such as HIV/AIDS, age, and social determinants like education, as well as their impacts on the general population.