Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Maternal Health Indicators in Nigeria
Abstract:
This study
examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal healthcare indicators
in Nigeria between 2018 and 2024. Before the pandemic, Nigeria’s health system
faced significant challenges, reflected in persistently high maternal mortality
rates. COVID-19 exacerbated these issues, disrupting services and testing the healthcare
system's resilience. Using a retrospective, cross-sectional comparative design,
this research analyzed nationally representative secondary data from the
Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) before and during the pandemic. Descriptive
statistics, Chi-square tests, logistic regression, and multivariate analysis of
variance (MANOVA) were employed to assess temporal and regional shifts in
maternal health indicators. Nationally, declines were observed in skilled birth
attendance (67% to 63%) and antenatal care participation (57% to 52%), although
these changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Regional
analyses revealed substantial declines in skilled birth attendance in the
North-East and North-West regions (p < 0.001) and a substantial improvement
in antenatal care attendance in the South-West (p = 0.032). Modest improvements
were also noted nationally, with institutional deliveries increasing from 39%
to 43%, and modest gains in postnatal care utilization. These findings
underscore the fragility of maternal healthcare services during global health
crises and highlight urgent need to strengthen health system resilience at
regional levels. Key recommendations include improving healthcare access in
underserved areas, enhancing the healthcare workforce, expanding digital health
initiatives, and promoting community-based maternal health education. This
study provides critical insights into the pandemic’s impact on maternal health
outcomes and emphasizes the importance of equity-focused public health
strategies for future emergencies.
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