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Maternal Mortality and Its Determinants: A Review of Trends and Risk Factors in Nigeria, 2015-2025: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Subject area: Biological & Medical Sciences · Area of research: Public Health
DOI: 10.64388/IREV10I4-1724187
Abstract
Background: Maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria despite efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 by 2030. This is so as a result of socioeconomic, demographic, and health-system disparities that continue to persist. This study was designed to determine trends and the pooled magnitude of maternal mortality in Nigeria from 2015–2025, identify key determinants and risk factors, and synthesize evidence-based recommendations for reducing maternal deaths. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Consensus were searched for eligible Nigerian studies, including cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, and surveillance/registry-based studies. Thirty-seven studies were narratively synthesized by determinant category. Eligible quantitative estimates were pooled using a random-effects model, with heterogeneity assessed using the I² statistic. Results: Maternal mortality remained high and heterogeneous across settings. The pooled facility-based maternal mortality ratio was approximately 1,753 deaths per 100,000 live births (95% CI: 1,086–2,830; I² = 94.3%), compared with a population-based sisterhood estimate of 430 per 100,000. Postpartum haemorrhage had a 4.8% case-fatality rate, while pooled mortality among women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia was 6.04%. Major determinants included inadequate antenatal care, informal setting delivery, delayed referral, low socioeconomic status, limited education, and health-system weaknesses. Conclusion: Maternal mortality in Nigeria remains unacceptably high and is driven by interacting demographic, socioeconomic, and health-system factors. Strengthening quality antenatal and emergency obstetric care, referral systems, financial protection, skilled maternity services, and maternal death surveillance is essential for accelerating progress toward SDG 3.1.
Keywords
maternal mortality; maternal mortality ratio; determinants; risk factors; Nigeria; systematic review; meta-analysis
How to cite this paper
@article{1724187,
author = {Nuhu Nitte, Shaibu Joel Achile, Bartholomew Tana Joy, Odey Ruth Nyere, Nwigwe Chinyere Justina},
title = {Maternal Mortality and Its Determinants: A Review of Trends and Risk Factors in Nigeria, 2015-2025: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {3115-3132},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1724187.pdf},
abstract = {Background: Maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria despite efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 by 2030. This is so as a result of socioeconomic, demographic, and health-system disparities that continue to persist. This study was designed to determine trends and the pooled magnitude of maternal mortality in Nigeria from 2015–2025, identify key determinants and risk factors, and synthesize evidence-based recommendations for reducing maternal deaths.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Consensus were searched for eligible Nigerian studies, including cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, and surveillance/registry-based studies. Thirty-seven studies were narratively synthesized by determinant category. Eligible quantitative estimates were pooled using a random-effects model, with heterogeneity assessed using the I² statistic.
Results: Maternal mortality remained high and heterogeneous across settings. The pooled facility-based maternal mortality ratio was approximately 1,753 deaths per 100,000 live births (95% CI: 1,086–2,830; I² = 94.3%), compared with a population-based sisterhood estimate of 430 per 100,000. Postpartum haemorrhage had a 4.8% case-fatality rate, while pooled mortality among women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia was 6.04%. Major determinants included inadequate antenatal care, informal setting delivery, delayed referral, low socioeconomic status, limited education, and health-system weaknesses.
Conclusion: Maternal mortality in Nigeria remains unacceptably high and is driven by interacting demographic, socioeconomic, and health-system factors. Strengthening quality antenatal and emergency obstetric care, referral systems, financial protection, skilled maternity services, and maternal death surveillance is essential for accelerating progress toward SDG 3.1.},
keywords = {maternal mortality; maternal mortality ratio; determinants; risk factors; Nigeria; systematic review; meta-analysis},
month = {October},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I4-1724187}
}