Introduction

Antenatal care (ANC) is the care of pregnant women and their babies before, during, and after childbirth. It is a vital part of maternal and child health, and it can help to ensure that pregnant women have a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery.

ANC is particularly important in Southwest Nigeria, where maternal mortality rates are high. According to WHO, in 2015, the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria was 576 deaths per 100,000 live births. This means that for every 100,000 women who give birth in Nigeria, 576 of them will die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. At least 40% of women in low- and medium-income countries such as Nigeria do not receive care during pregnancy, whereas utilization of recommended antenatal care has been associated with the reduction of maternal morbidities and mortalities. According to a 2019 study on the pattern of antenatal care services utilization in a mission hospital in Ogbomosho South, only 59.3% of the 442 pregnant women recruited made use of maternity services. Bearing in mind that Ogbomosho South is an urban area, these statistics will be worse in the rural parts of Ogbomosho due to factors such as the cost of registering for antenatal care and inadequate education on the importance of ANC. 

There are several factors that contribute to the high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, including poverty, lack of access to quality healthcare, and cultural beliefs and practices. One of the biggest challenges to reducing maternal mortality is ensuring that pregnant women receive regular ANC.

ANC is important because it helps:

1.      Prevent and manage pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, and anaemia.

2.      Detect and treat underlying medical conditions such as HIV and malaria. 

3.      Promote healthy lifestyles for pregnant women and their babies.

4.      Educate pregnant women about the birthing process and childcare.

Despite the importance of ANC, many pregnant women in Southwest Nigeria, particularly in Ogo-Oluwa LGA, do not receive regular care. This is due to several factors, which include a lack of awareness of the importance of ANC, lack of access to ANC services, and cultural beliefs and practices.

This outreach is designed to sensitize pregnant women and their communities on the importance of ANC and to dispel the myths surrounding ANC.  It would be an opportunity for pregnant women to ask questions and seek support from healthcare professionals.  The program will provide information on where to access ANC services.

Investing in maternal health not only benefits individual women but also contributes to healthier families, stronger communities, and sustainable development. We are aware of this fact and continue to drive initiatives targeted at supporting women through their perinatal period.

In light of this, on May 25, 2024, Gynix Afrika offers a day-free comprehensive antenatal care outreach and sensitization to pregnant women in Ogo Oluwa LGA in Ogbomosho, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Project Goals

The project goals are:

1. To promote better access to quality ante-natal care. 

2. To make antenatal care an effective strategy in reducing high maternal mortality rate.

3. To promote the physical, mental, and social well-being of pregnant women through education.

Project Objectives

The objectives of the project are:

1. To screen at least 200 pregnant women to detect and refer any pregnancy-related risks and complications.

2. To sensitize the women on the importance of attending proper antenatal centers during pregnancy.

3. To enlighten them on the need to do relevant and constant checkups for the safety of the mother and the baby.

4. To help the women create better access to professional medical personnel.

5. To educate the mothers about the physiology of pregnancy and labor so that fear is removed, and physiology is improved.

6. To screen at least 200 pregnant women to detect and refer in case of any complications.

Gynix Afrika team on a visit to Key Stakeholders in Odo-Oba.

Expected Outcomes 

At the end of this outreach, it is expected that we would have achieved the following:

1.      Reduce risk of birth complications in Ogo-Oluwa local government area of Ogbomosho. This will be indicated the percentage increase in the number of women who followed up their referral appointments.

2.      Decrease in child and maternal morbidity: this will be indicated by the percentage increase in the number of pregnant women who used the health centres for their labour and delivery.

3.      Increased awareness on the importance of antenatal care: this will be indicated by the percentage increase in the number of women who registered for antenatal care following outreach.

4.      Reduce low birth weight babies: this will be indicated by the increase in average birth weight of babies born at the health centres.

5.      Increase the use of health facility for delivery: this will indicated by the percentage increase in the number of women who used their vouchers at the health centres for delivery.

Would you love to contribute to improving maternal health in Southwest Nigeria? Kindly make a voluntary donation by clicking the donate button on our website. For more questions, clarifications or sponsorship, please send an email to hello@gynixafrika.com or call us at: (+234) 803 351 7346.

Together, we can collaborate towards a world where mother and baby are safe and protected.