Maternal experts have stated that deaths during pregnancy and after childbirth in Nigeria could be reduced if women have fewer children. Gynecologists highlighted that having numerous children poses significant health risks to women, emphasizing that every pregnancy and birth comes with inherent dangers.
One of the leading causes of maternal death after delivery is hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding, which is more common among women who have many children. Experts also noted that pregnancies spaced too closely together do not allow mothers to recover properly, as they lose essential nutrients like iron and folate during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Nigeria’s fertility rate, at 5.3 births per woman, is one of the highest globally. The country’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 512 per 100,000 live births, according to the 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey.
Gynecologists emphasized that lack of access to skilled birth attendants negatively impacts pregnancy outcomes, noting that about 80 percent of women in Nigeria still deliver at home. Dr. Joseph Akinde, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist and former Chairman of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, explained that complications during pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria.
He stated, “Having too many children increases the risk of hemorrhage after delivery. Each pregnancy puts a strain on a woman’s body, and repeated pregnancies can weaken the womb’s ability to contract, leading to excessive bleeding.”
Akinde also warned that having children at a very late age increases the risk of abnormal births. He advised women with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and heart disease to limit the number of children they have, as pregnancy can exacerbate these conditions. “For women with such chronic diseases, having more than two or three children can significantly increase health risks,” he said.
He urged pregnant women with chronic conditions to begin antenatal care early and register at well-equipped hospitals with skilled birth attendants. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that most maternal deaths are due to complications during and following pregnancy and childbirth, many of which are preventable or treatable. Major complications include severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, complications from delivery, and unsafe abortions.
Dr. Stanley Egbogu, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Akwa, Anambra State, added that pregnant women with co-morbidities should not use Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for antenatal care due to the high risk of complications. He recommended that these women register at teaching or specialist hospitals to receive the specialized care they need.
The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria has pointed out that Nigeria is far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing the maternal mortality rate to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Currently, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world, at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births.
