Religious Leaders Urged to Tackle Beliefs Affecting Maternal Deaths in Kano

Many women in Kano face dangers related to childbirth long before they go into labour.

Cultural beliefs, religious misunderstandings, money issues, late antenatal care, and reliance on traditional remedies can stop pregnant women from getting to health facilities when they need help.

These issues came up at a two-day interfaith workshop in Kano. Religious leaders, health workers, government officials, and development partners looked at ways communities can lower maternal deaths.

The workshop, called "Save Lives: An Interfaith Workshop on Reducing Maternal Mortality", was part of the Advocacy and Implementation of Maternal, Newborn, Child Nutrition and Health (AIM-MNCNH) project and took place on Monday in Kano State.

Participants discussed the "three delays" linked to maternal deaths and shared findings from community talks in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State.

The talks revealed that getting care often depends on more than just having health facilities. Decisions made by husbands and older family members, transport challenges, and beliefs about childbirth can all affect whether a woman gets timely care.

‘People Listen to Religious Leaders’

Adeniyi Ogunbanwo, Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kano State, spoke about the important role of religious leaders. He said communities trust them a lot.

Mr Ogunbanwo mentioned that churches can use sermons, weddings, naming ceremonies, and other gatherings to teach families about maternal health.

"Religious leaders, in terms of being realistic, people listen to us. So, we have a lot to play, and mostly by speaking," he said.

He added that churches can help women who struggle with medical bills, noting that some churches have maternity wards.

But Mr Ogunbanwo warned that religious beliefs should not stop women from getting professional medical care. He said some women think biblical references mean they should give birth without help.

According to him, CAN has been working with the Kano State Primary Healthcare Board and other government bodies on maternal health. They plan to create a sermon guide for churches in the state.

Family Decisions

The talks also showed how family members affect women’s choices about seeking care.

Maryam Danjuma, Community Engagement Officer with Pathfinder International, said many pregnant women do not make the final decisions about antenatal or delivery care.

Ms Danjuma explained that women often rely on their husbands, who can also be influenced by mothers-in-law and older women in their communities.

Some older women who gave birth at home in the past may see women wanting medical help as lazy. Ms Danjuma shared a story from a town-hall meeting where a woman died because her relatives disagreed with her husband’s decision to take her to a health facility.

She also mentioned a different case where a husband insisted his wife register for antenatal care, even though she initially refused.

Transport and Harmful Practices Worsen Delays

Ms Danjuma continued discussing barriers from the community meetings. She said distance and transport costs worsen the situation, especially for women in remote areas.

Some communities are far from health facilities and lack affordable transport options. She also raised concerns about "ruwan naƙuda", a substance some women take during labour, often mixed with herbs or pills.

According to her, this practice is common in some areas and can lead to complications. Ms Danjuma stated that these challenges need community members to work together, not just rely on religious leaders.

She said Pathfinder is engaging men, health workers, traditional birth attendants, and other influential people in the community. She added that traditional birth attendants can help by referring women to health facilities when complications happen.

Some community meetings are also being held at health facilities to help women feel comfortable and address worries about privacy and treatment.

JNI Challenges Misconceptions About Hospital Care

Muhammad Gwagwarwa, Chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kano State, highlighted the need to address misunderstandings about medical care.

Mr Gwagwarwa said religious leaders must challenge beliefs that stop women from seeking medical help. He mentioned that the organization was invited to gather Islamic scholars to find ways to cut down maternal deaths during and after childbirth.

He noted that Nigeria makes up 27 percent of global maternal deaths. Some families think that going to the hospital is not needed because childbirth is in God’s hands.

But he emphasized that Islam encourages people to seek treatment from health professionals. "Islam has established that people should seek healthcare and go to those who are experts in the field of health."

He added that staying at home and relying on fate has also led to these deaths. Mr Gwagwarwa also pointed out that fewer experienced traditional birth attendants are available now, which affects care.

He said JNI plans to spread maternal health messages beyond mosques to schools, marriage ceremonies, Qur’anic learning centres, Maulud gatherings, and Islamiyyah schools.

Responsibility Extends Beyond Families

While the talks focused on beliefs and family decisions, Habiba Mijin-Yawa, Ameera of the Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria, Kano State chapter, said the duty to reduce maternal deaths goes beyond families.

Ms Mijin-Yawa stated that families, communities, government, and health facilities all have roles to play. She pointed out issues like beliefs, irresponsible husbands, and women’s attitudes as challenges.

But she also said the government and health facilities need to fix problems that stop women from seeking care. "This is not only on the husband, but also the government and even the hospitals," she mentioned.

Pathfinder Seeks Measurable Change

Olufemi Ibitoye, Technical Adviser, MNCH at Pathfinder International, spoke about the goals of the workshop. He said the initiative aims to get religious leaders to move from just talking about the issue to taking real action.

Mr Ibitoye explained that Kano was chosen because it has a high rate of maternal mortality, with religious leaders from high-burden areas invited. He noted that participants created action plans to take maternal health messages back to their communities.

"What we are doing here is actually to save lives, an interfaith workshop to reduce maternal mortality in Kano State," he said.

The project is funded by the Gates Foundation through a group led by ACEPHAP, with Pathfinder International, CCSI, and American Women’s Association of Nigeria as partners.

Mr Ibitoye added that a sermon guide has been made to help religious leaders discuss antenatal care, danger signs, and skilled birth attendance. He said the plan will use existing structures to check if the efforts are working.

Health promotion and advocacy officers at the local government level will work with religious and community leaders to monitor antenatal attendance, facility deliveries, complications, and maternal deaths.