Availability and Utilization of Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care Services in Jigawa State, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality reduction is a priority under goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Majority of maternal deaths occur from direct obstetric complications like post-partum hemorrhage, obstructed labor, toxemia of pregnancy and complications of abortion. Availability and utilization of Emergency Obstetric Care services have been shown to reduce suffering and deaths from obstetric complications. The study assessed the availability and utilization of Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) services in Jigawa State, Northwest Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among public Primary Health Care facilities that provide delivery services in Jigawa State. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 15 public primary health care centers. Data was collected using a structured emergency obstetric care tool developed by Averting Maternal Death and Disability andanalyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: All the healthcare facilities administered parenteral Oxytocics, while 86.7% administered parenteral antibiotics and 93.3% performed neonatal resuscitation. About 53%, 74%, and 80% of the facilities performed removal of retained product, administration of parenteral anticonvulsants and manual removal of retained product respectively None of the health facilities performed assisted vaginal delivery. Only 20.3% of births took place in facilities providing BEmONC, and only 9.4% of the BEmONC needs in Jigawa State were being met. Conclusion: None of the health facilities met the criteria for fully functional BEmONC. Majority of the women with did not utilize BEmONC services and the BEmONC needs of the population were not being met.