Across Lagos, many women continue to rely on familiar, trusted care pathways during pregnancy and childbirth, yet the data reminds us that trust alone is not always enough to ensure safe outcomes.
In this piece, ALIWA Class IV Fellow (Muje Ghangeria) draws on the Project Aisha intervention to explore the complex interplay among culture, access, and quality of care, and why strengthening, not sidelining, existing systems may be the key to progress.
In Lagos State, findings from the 2018 Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) report show that 63% of maternal deaths occur during labour or in the immediate post-partum period. Many of these cases involved women who had not received skilled antenatal care and were referred late by traditional birth attendants or other unqualified providers—highlighting critical gaps in oversight and adherence to safety standards.
In response, Project Aisha, funded by MSD for Mothers, launched a three-year intervention across Lagos and Kaduna States, with a clear objective: to reduce maternal mortality and obstetric complications by 20% between 2022 and 2025.
Read the full article here.