Pregnancy Outcomes Among The Ibani Of Rivers State, Nigeria: Findings From Case-Studies
Maternal and child health
21
Issue: 1
(10 - 2006)
The prevalence of high maternal and infant morbidity/mortality among the Ibani
of Rivers State, Nigeria, is linked to socio-cultural factors that influence
perceptions, attitudes and practices of the people with regard to pregnancy. This
study investigates the factors affecting pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani by
examining 19 cases identified through Exit-interviews (EIs). Findings indicate
that pregnancy outcomes depend on the interaction of complex variables such as
male role, socioeconomic status of women, child spacing, access and use of
maternal health facilities, among others. The results show that there are 4
principal types of pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani, which include: Type-1
representing maternal and infant survival; Type-2 which is synonymous with
maternal survival but infant mortality; Type-3 or spontaneous abortion; and
Type-4 which represents maternal mortality but infant survival. The findings
suggest that multiple social, cultural and ideological factors condition behaviours
among the Ibani and that pregnancy
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