Pregnant women in Nigeria confront many challenges - FHI 360

Pregnant women in Nigeria, according to Chamberlain Diala (PhD, MPH), Associate Director, the Global Health, Population and Nutrition at FHI 360, are confronting a myriad of challenges, especially access to healthcare.Diala stated this in a chat with HealthNewsNG.com. 

 Speaking on the research carried out on "Perceptions of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) and barriers to adherence in Nasarawa and Cross River States in Nigeria", Diala said many pregnant women in Nigeria are not informed they are infected in malaria and could transfer the malaria parasite to the growing fetus.

"Pregnant women in Nigeria confront many challenges in Nigeria (in general) and in the study areas (in particular)," Diala said. "Many women need the services provided at health centers, but they are challenged by a number of factors. Many pregnant women do not know they carry malaria parasites; many do not know the possible harmful effects endemic malaria represents to their unborn babies."

Diala added that many of the pregnant women in Nigeria, especially those in the rural areas cannot afford to go to the distant health facilities for necessary ante-natal services.

Diala said: "many women lack resources to travel distances when clinics are not near their homes - especially women living in rural areas; others wait for a long time when they visit clinics for ANC services; yet others do not have funds to pay for informal and formal fees that health care providers charge them when they come to the clinics.

"There are also social barriers in regions of the country where some women may require husband or mother-in-law permission to attend ANC. There are cultural barriers where some communities prefer traditional birth attendants (TBA) and others prefer pregnancy services offered in places of worship.

"Now, there are justifiable reasons for some of the preferences for TBA and religious houses, however, these alternative options have significant challenges in cases where pregnancy-related complications may arise. The potential complications can be best addressed by skilled providers in well-equipped health centers."

On the impact of the research, Diala said it is pulls together two main issues that have not really been addressed by the vast body of knowledge on malaria in pregnancy.

Diala said: "It identifies the specific limitations of the health care delivery systems and the providers who work therein, the lack of political will on the part of policy makers to follow through on accessible and free ANC and associated services for pregnant women.

"On the other hand it identifies the socio-ecological levels of influence and support that must be galvanized (individual, family and community) to ensure that pregnant women use health center services to address intersecting pre-natal care issues to ensure healthy deliveries across the country, but also in the selected States under review.

"Further, this study stratifies rural and urban dichotomies as reported by health providers, pregnant women and in Nasarawa State only, the unique and significant perspectives of husbands."