Prenatal care and basic emergency obstetric care services provided at primary healthcare facilities in rural Nigeria

Objective: To assess the availability of prenatal care and basic emergency obstetric care services at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in rural Nigeria. Methods: In total, 652 PHC facilities enrolled in the Midwives Service Scheme, a government-funded program designed to reduce the national shortage of skilled birth attendants, were surveyed. Results: In all, 44.0% of the PHC facilities evaluated did not provide all components of prenatal care, and only 39.0% of all pregnant women nationwide attended prenatal care clinics 4 or more times. In addition, 52.2% of the facilities were not distributing insecticide-treated nets to pregnant women, while only 36.8% of the PHC facilities provided services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. By contrast, 70.0% of the PHC facilities had access to antibiotics for the treatment of uncomplicated sepsis. Only 11.0% of clinics reported the use of vacuum extraction during labor and 36.8% provided post-abortion care services. Treatment for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was initiated at 40.0% and 28.0% of PHC facilities, respectively, prior to referral. Conclusion: The present study provides useful information on the state of prenatal and basic emergency obstetric care in rural Nigeria. The data obtained indicate that changes are needed to achieve related Millennium Development Goals. © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.