Causes of maternal mortality in a semi-urban Nigerian setting.

Focus group discussions with people in Ekpoma, Nigeria, revealed them to be quite knowledgeable about haemorrhage in pregnancy and delivery. However, because of their inability to recognize early warning signs they continued traditional treatment even when clear evidence of danger existed. Furthermore, they tended not to seek help in clinics and hospitals because of sociocultural conditioning and a negative perception of the quality of care available. There were shortages of materials and adequately trained and committed personnel in the modern health institutions serving the community. An outline is given of the kinds of intervention needed in order to overcome these deficiencies.