Accountability for Maternal Healthcare Services in Nigeria

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Volume 137, Issue 2, p. 220-226, May 2017

12 Pages Posted: 15 May 2017

Date Written: 2017

Abstract

High maternal mortality ratios (MMR) serve as objective indicators of the poor condition of women’s health in any country and point to violations of human rights that are entrenched in national, regional and global laws. For over a decade, Nigeria has consistently been in the top 5 listed countries with the highest MMR in the world. It remains one of the countries with the world’s highest MMR, with 814 deaths per 100,000 live births, accounting for 19% of maternal deaths worldwide with approximately 58,000 deaths each year. Accountability for preventable maternal deaths and injuries is essential to both achieve and sustain a reduction in Nigeria’s high levels of maternal mortality. This article addresses key human rights strategies for securing accountability, and identifies opportunities for healthcare providers to play leadership roles in fulfilling legal and ethical obligations to preserve women’s lives.

Keywords: Accountability, Healthcare Providers, Human Rights, Maternal Mortality, Maternity Services, Mistreatment, Nigeria, Postpartum Detention, Preventable Maternal Mortality, Systemic Reform

JEL Classification: K10, J13, I18, I10

Suggested Citation

Afulukwe-Eruchalu, Onyema, Accountability for Maternal Healthcare Services in Nigeria (2017). International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Volume 137, Issue 2, p. 220-226, May 2017 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2897601

Onyema Afulukwe-Eruchalu (Contact Author)

Center for Reproductive Rights ( email )

120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
United States

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