Maternal and newborn health
Contact with a health worker during pregnancy should lead to safe, timely care during childbirth and after delivery.
Reaching care is only part of the journey
For a pregnant woman, antenatal care can provide important checks, health information and opportunities to identify complications before they become emergencies. But attending a clinic during pregnancy does not automatically mean she will deliver in a health facility or receive timely care after childbirth.
Nigeria’s Mini-Demographic and Health Survey 2025–26 Key Indicators Report highlights gaps along this journey. It found that 70.7% of women received antenatal care from a skilled provider, while 58.5% attended four or more antenatal visits. Only 50% of births were attended by a skilled provider, and 47.8% took place in a health facility. The report also found that 49.4% of women received a postnatal check within two days of delivery.
The maternal care journey
Where the gaps appear: from pregnancy to the days after delivery
Source: Nigeria Mini-Demographic and Health Survey 2025–26, Key Indicators Report.
These indicators point to the need to strengthen the full continuum of maternal care, from pregnancy to childbirth and the days immediately afterwards.
“Every woman deserves access to skilled care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.”
Why can women miss out on care?
A woman may begin pregnancy attending antenatal appointments but face barriers when it is time to deliver. Transport costs, long distances to health facilities, shortages of skilled health workers, facility charges and concerns about the quality or respectfulness of care can all make accessing services difficult.
Some complications develop suddenly and require urgent medical attention. When a facility is too far away, lacks essential supplies or cannot provide the required care, delays can have serious consequences for both mother and baby.
Postnatal care is equally important. The period immediately after childbirth can involve complications that are not always obvious to the mother or her family. Early checks allow health workers to assess recovery, identify warning signs and provide guidance on newborn care and breastfeeding.
What needs to change?
Improving maternal health requires action at several levels:
Pregnant women and families
Attend antenatal appointments, discuss delivery plans with health workers and know where to seek urgent care.
Health facilities
Provide respectful, quality care, maintain essential supplies and ensure skilled staff are available.
Government
Invest in accessible primary healthcare, referral systems, emergency transport and adequately equipped maternity services.
Communities
Help women reach facilities, challenge harmful delays and support mothers before and after delivery.
How to read these figures
The survey indicators cover women with a live birth or stillbirth in the two years preceding the survey. They describe reported service use and do not, on their own, explain why individual women did not receive care. Further investigation is needed to identify the barriers in different communities.
The bottom line
Every woman deserves access to skilled care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Strengthening services across this journey can help families seek care early and ensure that mothers and newborns are not left without support when they need it most.
Was this page useful to you?
Your answer is anonymous and helps us decide what to publish next.
Thank you. Your feedback helps us improve our news and articles.
