CULTURAL PRACTICES AND THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA (original) (raw)
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Abstract This study explores sociocultural and traditional practices associated with maternal health in Sokoto state, Nigeria. These practices play significant roles in the life of women folks in the zone. Past researches show that Nigeria is culturally diverse with over 300 different ethnic or linguistic groups and dialects. In this study, sources of data and information include field observations, current literature in international journals, other academic researches, government publications, United Nation reports, USAID resources, and Pathfinder International materials. The findings reveal that tradition-inspired practices and norms such as unattended labour and delivery, low level of education, hot-bath (Wankan jego) during new birth, use of herbs, forced marriage, early marriage, child spacing, female genital mutilation and traditional gender discrimination play a significant role in maternal health, and are believed to account for the high maternal mortality rates in the state. Although such practices are predominant among women with low education attainment their general influence remains strong even in the face of extensive modernisation such that they need to be addressed more squarely if maternal mortality is to be reduced. Hence, the study recommends that instead of investing in the provision of more modern health facilities that are grossly underutilised commensurate effort should be made in tackling traditional beliefs and practices among women in the state.
The Socio-Cultural Context of Maternal Health in Lagos State, Nigeria
This thesis is dedicated to the Almighty God, whose infinite mercies and favour saw me through, and also to the evergreen memory of my late parents Dr. & Mrs. N. F. Idowu, whose tireless efforts provided me with an opportunity to pursue my academics. May their loving souls continue to rest at the bosom of the Almighty God. To my spiritual parents, Bishop David and Pst. (Mrs.) Faith Oyedepo, whose spiritual virtues were a driving light throughout this study. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to tender my utmost and truthful gratitude to my heavenly Father, the Almighty God, who is the Alpha and Omega. He has made all things beautiful in His time. He is the giver of life and the reason for my existence. He knew me right from the womb and also knew what would become of me. He is the true one that offers knowledge and gives wisdom to mankind. Thank you, Lord. During the course of this study I received laudable support and assistance from a lot of people. However, I will just mention a few because it is only the Almighty God that can really acknowledge and reward everyone's efforts towards the success of this study. My profound appreciation goes to my supervisor, Dr. P. A. Edewor, who took pain and time to nurture, mentor and encourage me during the course of this work particularly for the feedback he gave to me from time to time. Also, I wish to express my gratitude to my cosupervisor, Professor A. Ogundipe, whose wealth of knowledge added glamour to this thesis. These acknowledgements will not be complete if I fail to recognize the mentoring contributions of my teacher and a senior colleague in the field, Dr. Alex Asakitikpi, whose relentless efforts, support and contribution to the success of this thesis is priceless. I am sincerely grateful to my aunty, Mrs. Odunola Owolabi, whose love, support and heart of generosity towards in the completion of this research work is immeasurable. Indeed, you are worthy of emulation. I appreciate God for your life. I will also like to shower accolades vi ABSTRACT Maternal health is one of the major concerns of the global health community. Pregnancyrelated mortality is avoidable if preventive measures are taken and adequate care is available. Yet women in sub-Saharan Africa continue to die due to pregnancy-related complications. This study set out to examine the socio-cultural context of pregnant women and how that context precipitates maternal morbidity and mortality. The study was prompted by the high rate of maternal death despite all efforts and the observation that studies had concentrated on the proximate determinants of maternal mortality, rather than also considering the social determinants. Five objectives were considered which were to: identify the social factors that precipitate the medical proximate determinants of maternal health, determine the cultural beliefs and stereotypes that are associated with maternal health, examine how role conflict influences maternal health, investigate how mothers' working conditions affect maternal health, and evaluate how social support influence maternal health. Systematic review of literature was carried out while the study utilized Functionalism, Agency Structure Theory and Gender and Development (GAD) Theory for its theoretical framework. The study was conducted in the four selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos State from November, 2011to January, 2012 using 1,362 respondents to whom a structured questionnaire was administered, 20 key informants were interviewed and 4 case studies were analysed. Five hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis revealed age, education, occupation, income, religion, marital status and type of marriage are significant determinants of maternal health complications. Women in age group 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34 are 0.631, 0.621 and 0.756 respectively less likely to have health complications. The second hypothesis estimated significant influence of cultural beliefs and practices on maternal health. With p-values 0.021, 0.001, 0.050 and 0.011 respectively, women who experience swollen feet, dizziness, fatigue or more than one of these symptoms are more likely to be at risk of complication. The third hypothesis also indicated a significant influence of role conflict on maternal health. Women's working conditions were found to significantly influence maternal health complications in the forth hypothesis. And the finding of the fifth hypothesis revealed that there is a significant influence of social support availab le to women on maternal health. The findings presented in this study show that maternal health vii challenges will continue to shape national indicators on health, poverty, and other development issues, if adequate attention is not provided. The study suggests that to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, intervention programmes must be introduced to deal with maternal health in a broad and multidimensional way. Every effort must be put in place to reduce poverty and enhance infrastructural development. Health promotion and education should be widely recognized and should be embarked upon as necessary primary approaches to ensure maternal health. Health policies toward maternal wellbeing during pregnancy in the place of work should be developed in the light of urban poor infrastructure. There must be a strong political will to help in the process of reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria.
SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA
Nigerian Journal of Clinical and Counselling Psychology. Vol. 17. No. 1: 35-61., 2011
This study examined various factors that contribute to maternal mortality and morbidity in Ibadan, Oyo State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Two hundred and sixty four (264) women of child-bearing age were purposively selected for the study. Self structured open and closed ended questionnaire tagged "Socio-Cultural Practice on Maternal Mortality Questionnaire" (SCPMMQ) was used as the instrument for the study. The data were analyzed using linear regression and Pearson correlation statistical analysis. Three research questions were postulated for the study. The major finding of the study was that educational background has a higher significant relationship (Correlation with the socio-cultural practices that affect maternal health more than both practicing safe motherhood and the respondents of age.. The result indicated that independent variable with beta weight has the largest correlation with the dependent variable The findings also reveals that there is strong relationship between socio-cultural practices and maternal mortality. The result further revealed that there is a significant relationship between respondents' age and socio-cultural practices that affect maternal health. Based on these findings, it is recommended that social workers and women advocacy professionals should embark on public education and mass campaigns to eradicate some social and cultural practices that are detrimental to the health of women in the community. The government should endeavour to provide adequate funding and materials for such programmes and provide adequate publicity and media support for them.
International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 2019
The major aim of this study was to examine some selected cultural practices affecting maternal mortality among married women of reproductive age in rural areas of Kano state. A multistage selection sampling process involving cluster and simple random sampling methods were used in selecting 1,120 women between the ages of 15 and 49 for questionnaire administration in 4 local government areas of Kano state namely Bichi, Gaya, Kibiya and Shanono. Similarly, purposive sampling technique was used in selecting respondents for the IDI and participants for the FGDs. Both primary and secondary data were utilised in the study. The primary data gathered through questionnaire were analysed quantitatively while the data gathered through FGDs sessions and IDI were qualitatively analysed to complement and support the quantitative analysis The major findings of the study indicates that marternal mortality is associated with early marriage, preference for home delivery, nutritional status of women and lack of decision making power of women. The study therefore, concluded that to understand the problem of maternal mortality as a whole, we must understand the influence of some cultural practices on maternal health. It is based on this that the study recommends that a robust enlightenment campaign be carried out to educate men and women in the society particularly those in the rural areas on the harmful cultural practices that are detrimental to the health of women in their reproductive ages. The study also suggest that policies geared towards uplifting women's status in the society should be encouraged and enforced. This can be done by vigorously pursuing girl child education in Kano State.
2012
The study investigates household and socio-cultural factors that predispose women to high morbidity and mortality in rural Northern Cross River State. The study design utilized the survey research approach involving a sample of 823 respondents drawn from an estimated total population of 842,561 women. Multi-staged sampling procedure was used to select sampling units. Data were subjected to chi-square and logistic regression analysis. The socio-economic status of women played a significant role in maternal health; ever married women had better health status than those that were single; women who had their first babies earlier than the age of 20 had poorer health status relative to those who had them later. Household sanitation and hygiene behaviour were significantly related to maternal health status. Households with poor waste disposal systems reported poorer health status relative to those with better waste disposal systems. Some cultural practices such as early marriage, patriarch...
Sociocultural factors influencing maternal health outcomes in Nigeria
Scientific Research Journal, 2019
Maternal health outcomes, just like other health indicators are influenced by sociocultural factors prevailing in the context where the population of interest exists. Human beings interact with their environment, both physical and sociocultural and these interactions influence their physical and mental wellbeing. Maternal mortality and morbidity is a marker of the status of health of the population. This review informed by recent development in maternal and newborn health was conducted to determine how the sociocultural factors have contributed to maternal health outcomes in Nigeria. It involved search of current and recent literature and identified twenty two (22) articles, the contents read and organized into themes-Gender and maternal health, sociocultural determinants and maternal health outcomes. The papers seek to provide answers on how factors within the physical and social environment have contributed to maternal health outcomes. Findings from the review revealed that social and cultural factors for example age, religion, traditional belief system, education, marital status, socioeconomic status and societal construction of gender are major determinants of maternal health outcomes in Nigeria. It recommended that for there to be any meaningful improvement on maternal health outcomes, it is incumbent that these factors are investigated further especially to the different context in which proposed interventions are to be implemented. It cautioned that it is important to consider the context as what might be a major determinant in some regions may actually not be seen as a serious factor in other parts of Nigeria.
Socio-Cultural Correlates of Maternal Morbidity in Lagos State, Nigeria
The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology
Adverse maternal health is a public health challenge in Less developed countries particularly Nigeria. Despite different interventions, Nigerian women are 500 times more likely to die during pregnancy than their counterparts in more developed countries. Although, some women survive the phase of pregnancy and delivery, they do so with disabling long-term complications. Clinical factors have been identified as possible causes of these adverse maternal issues with no recourse to cultural and behavioural factors. This study focuses on the influence of socio-cultural factors on maternal morbidity among women of reproductive age. Health Belief Model and Religious Functionalism of Emile Durkheim were adopted as the theoretical orientation. The Cross-sectional survey design was utilized with 400 questionnaires administered among pregnant women through the multi-stage sampling technique. Cultural beliefs on pregnancy and child delivery include sharing of gifts to children in the neigbourhood...
Traditional Society in South-Eastern Nigeria: Implications for Women's Health
The Bangladesh Development Studies
Property in Igbo traditional land and culture refers to wealth in the forms of houses, lands, money/cash, fruit trees and animals. These are transferred from the father to his children at the man's death. Property inherited from the family usually forms part of a person's wealth in Nigeria. However, in Anambra, Igbo, women are not allowed to inherit property either from their father or their husbands. Under this arrangement, a woman is seen as an inheritable property and, therefore, not expected to own properties. The paper examines the practice of women as inheritable property of the Anambra, Igbo; analyses how these practices have impacted women's health; and ascertains whether there have been changes in these practices. The paper concludes that women as inheritable property impoverishes women and constitutes a barrier to women attaining their full potentials in Igboland, which has serious implications for their health.
The Socio-cultural Behaviours of Women’s Health Facilities Utilisation in Northern Nigeria
This study looks at the influence of socio-cultural behaviours and women’s health facilities utilisations in northern Nigeria. A Pearson’s correlation statistical analysis was employed using a questionnaire administered to 315 women between the ages of 15 and 45 years. The findings indicate husband’s permission had strong significant relationships to antenatal care services (ANC). In addition, there were strong significant relationships between women limited freedom and female genital mutilation in terms of skilled delivery (DC) as well as husband’s permission and limited freedom of women among others. Also, a strong significant relationship exists between the postnatal care services (PNC) and limited women freedom as well as with home delivery and hot-bathing practices among others. To improve women health care utilisation and maternal health in northern Nigeria, this study provides useful planning information drawn from the women sociocultural behaviours leading to the consequent low modern health facilities utilisations.
Social and Cultural Factors in Women’s Health in Rural Africa
International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies, 2017
The purpose of this study was to examine sociocultural factors that impact self-care and health maintenance of women in The Kingdom of Swaziland and to develop a deeper understanding of how cultural values are a determinant of health outcomes. Data was ethnographic and narrative in nature. Carspecken's process of critical ethnography was used to structure the study and for analysis of the data. Findings were then applied to the culturally sensitive Person-Environment-Neighborhood (PEN-3) model. The findings illustrate how social issues such as poverty and food insecurity dramatically impact the health of Swazi women and children. Traditional customs both support and threaten health. Application of the PEN-3 model targeted areas of intervention and identified the community as the appropriate level of entry.