TY - JOUR AU - Olonade, Olawale AU - Olawande, Tomike I. AU - Alabi, Oluwatobi Joseph AU - Imhonopi, David PY - 2019/03/16 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Maternal Mortality and Maternal Health Care in Nigeria: Implications for Socio-Economic Development JF - Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences JA - Open Access Maced J Med Sci VL - 7 IS - 5 SE - F - Review Articles DO - 10.3889/oamjms.2019.041 UR - https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/oamjms.2019.041 SP - 849-855 AB - <p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Even though maternal mortality, which is a pregnancy-related death is preventable, it has continued to increase in many nations of the world, especially in the African countries of the sub-Saharan regions caused by factors which include a low level of socioeconomic development.</p><p><strong>AIM: </strong>This paper focuses on cogent issues affecting maternal mortality by unpacking its precipitating factors and examining the maternal health care system in Nigeria.</p><p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Contemporary works of literature were reviewed, and the functionalist perspective served as a theoretical guide to examine the interrelated functions of several sectors of the society to the outcome of maternal mortality.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>It was noted that apart from the medical related causes (direct and indirect) of maternal mortality, certain socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors influence the outcome of pregnancy. Also, a poor health care system, which is a consequent of weak social structure, is a contributing factor.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>As a result, maternal mortality has debilitating effects on the socioeconomic development of any nation. It is therefore pertinent for the government to improve maternal health and eradicate poverty to ensure sustainable development.</p> ER -