Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors as Predictors of Maternal Mortality among Pregnant Women in Selected Hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

 Maternal mortality is a major public health challenge in Nigeria which is influenced by not only medical but also socioeconomic and psychological factors affecting pregnancy women. Although interventions are in place, women are still dying during pregnancy and child birth, indicating a need for the investigation of more distant determinants. The study examined the socio-economic and psychological determinants of maternal mortality in pregnant women in few selected hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State. The descriptive survey design was used. The study sample consisted of pregnant women at the antenatal clinics of the hospitals. A sample of 300 was determined by using the Taro Yamane formula with the response rate of 95.3% in which 286 valid responses were analyzed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and multiple regression) were applied at 5% level of significance. Maternal mortality and age (r = 0.418), education (r = 0562), income (r = 0.603), attendance at antenatal clinic during last pregnancy (r = 0.648) had significant positive correlations. Psychological variables also had strong association (r= 0.712). Socioeconomic and psychological variables combined accounted for 61% of the variance in maternal mortality (R² = 0.610) with psychological variables being a stronger predictor (β = 0. 517) than the socioeconomic variables (β = 0.462). Maternal mortality is socially and psychologically determined. Recommendations were for increased female education and provision of sustainable and affordable maternal health care services, in addition to mental health services being integrated into antenatal care.