Childbirth: Ban religious centres from taking deliveries, gynaecologists tell govt

Maternal health experts have raised the alarm over the growing involvement of untrained birth attendants and religious centres in childbirth, warning that the trend poses a serious risk to maternal and child health in Nigeria.

The physicians noted that many of these places operate without the oversight of health authorities and lack the capacity to manage complications during labour, leading to preventable deaths.

According to them, the government must take firm action to restrict deliveries to qualified professionals within recognised medical facilities.

Available data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicate that a significant percentage of births in the country still occur outside health facilities, often in the hands of unskilled personnel.

Data from the World Health Organisation shows that Nigeria accounts for nearly 28.5 per cent of global maternal deaths, with many of these deaths occurring in rural areas where access to skilled birth attendants is limited.

In these regions, religious institutions and unlicensed birth attendants often step in, offering delivery services that lack the necessary medical expertise and facilities.

Speaking, the gynaecologists explained that the reliance on traditional birth attendants and faith-based centres is often driven by ignorance, cultural beliefs, and limited access to healthcare, especially in rural communities.

They argued that while some of these non-medical practitioners may offer emotional or spiritual support, they are not equipped to deal with emergencies such as obstructed labour, postpartum haemorrhage, or eclampsia, all of which require medical intervention.

A maternal health expert, Prof. Ernest Orji, urged the federal and state governments to urgently enforce legislation that bans unqualified individuals and religious centres from handling childbirth in Nigeria.

Orji expressed deep concern over the rising number of women opting for delivery services in unregulated environments, particularly churches, mosques, and among untrained birth attendants.

The physician, who has over 40 years of experience in maternal health, described the practice as dangerous and a key factor contributing significantly to the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

“Childbirth is not just a spiritual journey, it is a medical process with real risks. And that means families, especially fathers, must plan big and plan early,” Orji stated.

He argued that while faith plays a vital role in people’s lives, the act of giving birth should not be reduced to a religious ritual conducted outside regulated health facilities.

“Churches and mosques should not be venues for deliveries. These places are meant for worship, not for childbirth. The government should legislate against this practice and ensure that all pregnant women register at approved health facilities where qualified personnel are present,” he added.

The gynaecologist emphasised that Nigeria cannot continue to lose women to avoidable causes when basic interventions like proper prenatal care, trained health workers, and safe delivery spaces can significantly lower maternal deaths.

“These places are not equipped to handle complications. A woman could bleed to death from postpartum haemorrhage, or a baby could suffer brain damage due to prolonged labour, all because there is no skilled medical professional around,” the professor warned.

The physician called on legislators across all levels of government to enact and enforce laws that criminalise unsafe delivery practices outside approved medical centres, adding that monitoring and strict penalties must be implemented to ensure compliance.

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The don also advocated for expanded access to community-based health insurance and subsidised maternal healthcare.

Citing a successful initiative by a former governor of Ondo State who introduced low-cost or free maternal services, he said the policy had drawn women from across the country and sharply reduced maternal deaths in the state during the period.

“The key is early registration and proper preparation for childbirth. If more women access proper medical care early, many of these tragic deaths can be avoided,” he said.

He stressed that tackling maternal mortality requires a combination of government policy, public education, and cultural transformation.

According to him, the societal mindset that views childbirth as purely a spiritual matter must shift towards recognising it as a critical medical event that demands trained expertise.

Orji appealed to traditional and religious leaders to support maternal health campaigns and encourage women to seek antenatal care at registered health centres.

He also urged families to begin financial planning for deliveries early and treat childbirth with the seriousness it deserves.

Also speaking, a consultant gynaecologist at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adeyemi Otunuya, expressed deep concern over the increasing number of women patronising traditional birth attendants and faith-based centres for deliveries, often at the expense of their lives and those of their babies.

He noted that most of these facilities lack trained medical personnel and the necessary equipment to manage pregnancy-related complications, leading to preventable deaths.

According to him, it has become imperative for the government to enforce strict regulations that would prohibit unlicensed individuals and institutions from conducting deliveries.

“The government cannot continue to fold its arms while quacks and religious organisations take over childbirth services without proper oversight. These places are ill-equipped to handle emergencies. We are losing too many mothers and babies to ignorance and negligence,” he said.

Otunaya also called for the strengthening of primary healthcare centres and increased investment in maternal health services to make hospital-based deliveries more accessible and affordable for pregnant women, particularly in rural areas.

The physician added that sensitisation campaigns were necessary to educate expectant mothers on the risks associated with using unapproved delivery centres.

“We need to prioritise maternal health. Access to skilled birth attendants is critical to reducing maternal mortality. It is not enough to build hospitals; people must be encouraged and empowered to use them,” he added.