Abstract:
This study was designed to explore the socio-cultural factors associated with maternal mortality among reproductive women (15 to 45 years) in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State Nigeria. The study population consists of males and females (18 years and above). Data were collected using questionnaire and focus group discussion guides. The sample size used for the study was 600. The quantitative data gathered were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences using percentages; Chi-square (x2) was used to test the hypotheses, while the qualitative data gathered were analyzed in themes as complement to the quantitative data. Findings show that there is a statistically significant relationship (x²= 14.642; df=1, pے .000, critical value =3.841) between place of residence and likely maternal mortality. Also, it was discovered that there is statistically significant relationship (x²= 3.933;df=1, pے .036, critical value=3.841) between level of education and likely maternal mortality. The findings also show that there is no statistically significant relationship (x²= 2.755; df=2,p< .252, critical value= 5.991) between economic status and likely maternal mortality. The result further showed that there is no statistically significant relationship (x²= .188;df=1, pے .412, critical value=3.841) between decision making power and likely maternal mortality. Again, the findings revealed that majority (58.7%) of the respondents attested that many women in their community had lower education, so most often they may abuse some drugs unknowingly which may lead to some complication and may affect them during child birth and others practice some cultures that can be harmful to their safe delivery. However, Nigerian leaders should be ready to invest for the long-term on female education and women should be ready to embrace male education to enable them get maternal health information. The NGOs in conjunctions with the governments should help to equip our hospital for the upkeep of the women. More so, these aforementioned bodies should devise means of addressing the identified factors to lessen the impending escalation of problems resulting from maternal mortality.
