Ja. Owa et al., TRENDS IN UTILIZATION OF OBSTETRIC CARE AT WESLEY-GUILD-HOSPITAL, ILESA, NIGERIA - EFFECTS OF A DEPRESSED ECONOMY, Tropical and geographical medicine, 47(2), 1995, pp. 86-88
Perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) at Wesley Guild Hospital (WGH), Ilesa,
Nigeria, over a ten-year period was retrospectively analysed. The mai
n objective was to determine the trends in. the utilization of obstetr
ic care and PNMR in the face of current economic difficulties in Niger
ia and to make suggestions for improvement. The average PNMR over the
period was 57.8/1000 births. There was a sharp rise in PNMR in 1985 to
a peak of 110/1000 in 1987 (p<0.0001). This was associated with a dec
line in utilization of maternity services, probably as a result of the
introduction of fees for maternity services late in 1984 and increase
in economic hardship in Nigeria. Actions are needed to improve enhanc
ed access to obstetric care for the poor. These actions include: impro
vement in the economic conditions of the people, emphasis on primary h
ealth care (PHC) and early referral of high-risk pregnant women to ter
tiary units.