Sociocultural factors influencing maternal health outcomes in Nigeria

Abstract

Maternal health outcomes, just like other health indicators are influenced by sociocultural factors prevailing in the context where the population of interest exists. Human beings interact with their environment, both physical and sociocultural and these interactions influence their physical and mental wellbeing. Maternal mortality and morbidity is a marker of the status of health of the population. This review informed by recent development in maternal and newborn health was conducted to determine how the sociocultural factors have contributed to maternal health outcomes in Nigeria. It involved search of current and recent literature and identified twenty two (22) articles, the contents read and organized into themes Gender and maternal health, sociocultural determinants and maternal health outcomes. The papers seek to provide answers on how factors within the physical and social environment have contributed to maternal health outcomes. Findings from the review revealed that social and cultural factors for example age, religion, traditional belief system, education, marital status, socioeconomic status and societal construction of gender are major determinants of maternal health outcomes in Nigeria. It recommended that for there to be any meaningful improvement on maternal health outcomes, it is incumbent that these factors are investigated further especially to the different context in which proposed interventions are to be implemented. It cautioned that it is important to consider the context as what might be a major determinant in some regions may actually not be seen as a serious factor in other parts of Nigeria.