Analysis of Trends and Maternal Health Indicators in Nigeria: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study undertakes a comparative statistical analysis of trends and maternal health indicators in Nigeria using the 2018 and 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) datasets. Concentration indices confirmed persistent pro-rich inequality in all maternal health indicators (CI = +0.27 for SBA in 2023), with a 60-percentage point absolute equity gap in facility delivery between the richest and poorest wealth quintiles. The North West and North East geopolitical zones exhibited the lowest service coverage, with SBA as low as 19.4% in the North West in 2023 compared to 84.6% in the South East. Decomposition analysis identified household wealth (27.8%), geopolitical zone (19.6%), maternal education (18.5%), and urban residence (12.2%) as the leading contributors to inequality in SBA. These findings underscore the urgent need for equity-focused maternal health policies targeting northern geopolitical zones and the poorest households in Nigeria.