I was shocked when I had that my Uncle lost his wife, it was unbelievable, when I asked what happen. I was told she died during childbirth, that before she went into labour she was bleeding and when the real labour started, the doctor still went ahead and asked her to push. I asked my Mum who is a Matron and she told me that since she was bleeding the doctor shouldn’t ask her to push but rather take her to the theater for a S.C. She bleeds to death as a result of unskilled personnel.

Material Mortality is the death of a woman while pregnant or within forty-two (42) days of termination of pregnant, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy delivery or the post-partum factor (direct causes) or as a result of worsening existing medical condition (indirect causes).

In Nigeria the rate of material death is about 50,000 thousand every year. Nigeria has a population of over 140 million people (2006 National Census), which women of reproductive age 25-44yrs constitute about 15% of the Nigeria population, children aged 5yrs constitute about 15% of the population. There two groups constitute about 40% of the population seeking health care service.

Causes of Material Mortality Are:

Direct Medical Causes:- Direct contraceptive & un-save abortion.
Indirect Causes:- Sickle Cell Anemia, Tuberculosis, Typhoid and HIV/Aids
Cultural Causes:- female genital mutilation, wife battering & unsafe practice of TBA.

Economic Causes:- High rate of poverty & illiteracy not able to afford antennal services.

Social Causes:- Delay in assessing Quick medical attention and delay in reaching medical center due to bad roads.

Absent of Skilled Personnel:- in Nigeria  the total number of Doctors is six hundred (600) (from statistic) only (22) of them where trained in life saving scheme. The higher the skilled personnel the lower the rate of material mortality.

Presently, Delta State Governor has put into law free Anti-natal Care for pregnant women. This will go a long way reducing maternal mortality. We still need more awareness in both Urban and Rural  Areas and also more skill personnel in relation to Maternal Health.