Understanding Maternal Healthcare in the Contexts of Culture, Infrastructure and Development in Pluralistic Nigerian Society
Sunday Olusola Aluko-Arowolo, Israel Adewole Ademiluyi

Abstract
Background: Culture, poverty and maternal health risk occasioned by paucity of necessary maternal health infrastructures are detrimental factors to the health of both mother and child in Nigeria pluralistic society. While cultural tendencies perpetuate seemingly negative practices, culture contours and lack of political will act as the primary cause for high mortality rates among mothers and babies in their first five year of life. Objectives: The main reasons are low utilization of quality of maternal healthcare services, negative opinion of important referents, social, cultural, physical and economic barriers such as patriarchy, long distances, high transport and other indirect costs. Therefore, an epistemological understanding of healthcare consumption and process of care depends on these factors: the genetic, social, environment and culture. Others are poverty, bad hygienic conditions, limited access to treatment and underdevelopment of infrastructures. Methodology: The review examined the existing level of maternal and child mortality/morbidity within the extant literature and statistics. Conclusion: It is therefore suggested that government should make available functional primary health care facilities including maternity centres equipped with up to date infrastructures which would be funded equitably to encourage patronage and easy access to both rural and urban residents. Effort should be made to retain trained professionals.

Full Text: PDF