Maternal Mortality in Adamawa North, Nigeria: Prevalence, Determinants and Community-Based Evidence

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal mortality has been a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, especially in the northern region, due to
limited access to good reproductive health services. This research sought to investigate the prevalence and determinants of maternal
mortality in selected areas of Adamawa State, Northern Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used for the study, which was carried out in Mubi North and Mubi South Local Government Areas, among others, in the Northern Senatorial Zone of Adamawa State. Structured questionnaires were distributed to 364 respondents selected through a multistage sampling design. The data were described, and chi-square tests were used to identify relationships between variables. Results: The prevalence rate of maternal mortality found in the study was consistent with the high rate described in the North of Nigeria. It is stated that the number one cause of maternal mortality has been the case of hemorrhage (32.4%), followed by hypertensive disorders (21.7%), sepsis (16.5%), and delay in accessing the emergency obstetric care (15.3%). Significant determinants included a distance to health care facilities (χ² = 11.62, p < 0.05), a shortage of skilled birth attendants (χ² = 14.31, p < 0.05), poor utilisation of the services of the Antenatal (ANCS) (χ² = 18.42, p < 0.05) and socioeconomic status (SES) (χ² = 9.27, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Systemic challenges include inadequate referrals, poor reporting of maternal health information, and poor coordination of emergency responses. Evidence from the international literature shows that AI can facilitate maternal health by enabling predictive data analysis for high-risk pregnancies, automating support for frontline health care providers, and enabling digital surveillance of maternal complications in resource-poor zones. Integrate AI-powered maternal risk prediction tools into existing reproductive health programs in Adamawa State to support efforts to prevent preventable maternal deaths, the study recommends.