Gender Norms, Culture Driving Maternal Deaths in Bauchi State – UNICEF

From Paul Orude  Bauchi

Sociocultural norms have been identified as a major contributor to maternal mortality in Nigeria, with Bauchi among the states recording high rates.

This was highlighted by Mr. Eki George, a Social and Behaviour Change Specialist at the Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund, during an orientation  programme for journalists in the state.

Gender dynamics continue to play a critical role in determining whether women seek healthcare or deliver in health facilities, particularly in parts of Bauchi State where many women still require their husbands’ permission before attending antenatal care.

George explained that deeply rooted beliefs, traditions, and cultural practices significantly influence health-seeking behavior. 

He stressed that without a shift in these societal attitudes, meaningful progress in reducing maternal deaths would remain difficult.

According to him, in some communities, facility-based childbirth is wrongly perceived as taboo, with cultural norms encouraging unsafe traditional practices.

He noted that stigma and misconceptions often delay or prevent women from accessing timely and appropriate medical care.

Speaking on infant nutrition, George emphasized the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, noting that early breastfeeding helps protect newborns from various illnesses. 

He warned that delays in breastfeeding could expose infants to serious health risks.

He further advocated for the transformation of gender norms that restrict women’s mobility and access to information, stating that such changes are essential to promoting positive health-seeking behaviors in communities.

Also speaking, the Gender Desk Officer at the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Amina Balali, urged husbands to grant their wives timely permission to seek medical care whenever necessary.

Balali added that a woman’s level of education plays a significant role in her healthcare decisions, noting that educated women are less likely to depend on spousal approval before seeking care during pregnancy.