Proposed Framework for Making Focused Antenatal Care Services Accessible: A Review of the Nigerian Setting

The aim of this paper is to propose a framework for making antenatal care an effective strategy in reducing the high maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria. On-site visits to five teaching hospitals were carried out between 2006 and 2008 to assess the practice of antenatal care. Group discussions with 200 parturients on their awareness of birth preparedness/complication readiness were conducted, in October, 2008. The findings of this study are discussed in line with the proposed practice of focused antenatal care. The practice of antenatal care in all the hospitals visited was the traditional approach based on earlier European models. Awareness of birth preparedness/complication readiness, by parturients, as a goal-directed intervention during antenatal care was low (21.5%). To reduce maternal deaths through antenatal care, it is critical to link care with detecting and treating causes of maternal mortality by a skilled attendant.