Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria

This study explores sociocultural and traditional practices associated with maternal health in Sokoto state, Nigeria. These practices play significant roles in the life of women folks in the zone. Past researches show that Nigeria is culturally diverse with over 300 different ethnic or linguistic...

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Main Authors: Muazu Alhaji Shamaki, Amriah Buang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM,Bangi 2014
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/1/1x.geografia-nov14-muazu-edam1.pdf
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author Muazu Alhaji Shamaki,
Amriah Buang,
author_facet Muazu Alhaji Shamaki,
Amriah Buang,
author_sort Muazu Alhaji Shamaki,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study explores sociocultural and traditional practices associated with maternal health in Sokoto state, Nigeria. These practices play significant roles in the life of women folks in the zone. Past researches show that Nigeria is culturally diverse with over 300 different ethnic or linguistic groups and dialects. In this study, sources of data and information include field observations, current literature in international journals, other academic researches, government publications, United Nation reports, USAID resources, and Pathfinder International materials. The findings reveal that tradition-inspired practices and norms such as unattended labour and delivery, low level of education, hot-bath (Wankan jego) during new birth, use of herbs, forced marriage, early marriage, child spacing, female genital mutilation and traditional gender discrimination play a significant role in maternal health, and are believed to account for the high maternal mortality rates in the state. Although such practices are predominant among women with low education attainment their general influence remains strong even in the face of extensive modernisation such that they need to be addressed more squarely if maternal mortality is to be reduced. Hence, the study recommends that instead of investing in the provision of more modern health facilities that are grossly underutilised commensurate effort should be made in tackling traditional beliefs and practices among women in the state.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:83182016-12-14T06:46:54Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/ Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria Muazu Alhaji Shamaki, Amriah Buang, This study explores sociocultural and traditional practices associated with maternal health in Sokoto state, Nigeria. These practices play significant roles in the life of women folks in the zone. Past researches show that Nigeria is culturally diverse with over 300 different ethnic or linguistic groups and dialects. In this study, sources of data and information include field observations, current literature in international journals, other academic researches, government publications, United Nation reports, USAID resources, and Pathfinder International materials. The findings reveal that tradition-inspired practices and norms such as unattended labour and delivery, low level of education, hot-bath (Wankan jego) during new birth, use of herbs, forced marriage, early marriage, child spacing, female genital mutilation and traditional gender discrimination play a significant role in maternal health, and are believed to account for the high maternal mortality rates in the state. Although such practices are predominant among women with low education attainment their general influence remains strong even in the face of extensive modernisation such that they need to be addressed more squarely if maternal mortality is to be reduced. Hence, the study recommends that instead of investing in the provision of more modern health facilities that are grossly underutilised commensurate effort should be made in tackling traditional beliefs and practices among women in the state. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM,Bangi 2014-11 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/1/1x.geografia-nov14-muazu-edam1.pdf Muazu Alhaji Shamaki, and Amriah Buang, (2014) Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria. Geografia : Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 10 (6). pp. 1-14. ISSN 2180-2491 http://www.ukm.my/geografia/v2/index.php
spellingShingle Muazu Alhaji Shamaki,
Amriah Buang,
Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria
title Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria
title_full Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria
title_fullStr Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria
title_short Sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: An overview of Sokoto State, Nigeria
title_sort sociocultural practices in maternal health among women in a less developed economy: an overview of sokoto state, nigeria
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8318/1/1x.geografia-nov14-muazu-edam1.pdf