By Simpson Global Media News Desk
Report date: Friday, 23 October 2026
Report preparation time: 07:20 WAT (UTC+1)
Location: Nigeria national maternal-health issue
Health experts are urging Nigeria to strengthen maternal healthcare, emergency obstetric services and national health-data systems as concerns persist over stillbirths and gaps in the monitoring of pregnancy outcomes.
Oghome Emembo, national lead of the Stillbirth Prevention and Care (SPEED) Initiative, raised the concerns in an interview published by The Guardian Nigeria on Thursday, October 22, 2026. She highlighted weaknesses in stillbirth reporting, shortages in emergency obstetric capacity, inadequate refresher training for maternity staff and risk factors that may go undetected during pregnancy. [Source: The Guardian Nigeria]
Emembo said more accurate information is essential for determining where stillbirths occur, identifying avoidable causes and directing resources towards facilities and communities that need support. She also called for stronger antenatal care, timely responses to complications and improved support for women and families affected by pregnancy loss. <Cite refs={["turn516235view1","turn874632view1"]}/>
The discussion comes amid continuing international efforts to reduce preventable deaths before and during childbirth. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly two million stillbirths occur globally each year, with more than 40 per cent occurring during labour. It says improvements in the quality of childbirth care, routine monitoring and timely emergency obstetric intervention could prevent some of these deaths. <Cite refs={["turn413201search0","turn413201search25"]}/>
Nigeria's challenge extends beyond clinical care alone. Health officials also need reliable records that distinguish stillbirths from other pregnancy outcomes, identify when deaths occur and help determine whether treatment or referral could have changed the outcome.
The figures cited in public discussion require careful interpretation. Emembo referred to more than 400,000 annual stillbirths in Nigeria, while also citing a more recent United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) estimate of 23.8 stillbirths per 1,000 births. The interview itself highlighted weaknesses in national data, so the larger annual figure should not be treated as a settled current national count without further verification. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search27"]}/>
Understanding the stillbirth challenge
The WHO defines a stillbirth, for its principal international estimates, as the death of a baby at or after 28 completed weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth. This definition distinguishes stillbirths from earlier pregnancy losses and supports more consistent comparisons between countries. <Cite refs={["turn413201search0","turn413201search25"]}/>
A stillbirth may occur before labour begins or during labour and delivery. These situations are clinically different and may involve different risk factors, which is one reason accurate records of the timing and circumstances of each loss are important.
Some deaths are associated with underlying maternal medical conditions, infections, problems affecting placental function or complications involving the baby. Others may occur during labour when a complication is not recognised quickly enough or when appropriate emergency treatment is unavailable or delayed.
Not every stillbirth can be prevented, even where care is available. However, experts and international health agencies have identified interventions that can reduce risks, including appropriate antenatal monitoring, screening and treatment for certain infections, detection of complications, skilled childbirth care and timely access to emergency obstetric services. <Cite refs={["turn413201search0","turn413201search1"]}/>
For families, the consequences extend beyond the immediate medical event. Parents may experience grief, emotional distress, social stigma and uncertainty about future pregnancies. The loss can also create financial pressure, particularly when families have paid for repeated consultations, investigations, transport or emergency treatment.
These consequences make stillbirth prevention and care an important part of maternal and newborn health policy. The issue requires both efforts to reduce avoidable deaths and compassionate support for families when a loss occurs.
Nigeria's stillbirth estimates require stronger reporting
Emembo cited a stillbirth rate of 23.8 per 1,000 births from UN IGME estimates, describing it as almost twice the global target of 12 per 1,000 births. She also noted that Nigeria's national Every Newborn Action Plan has set a target of reducing the country's stillbirth rate to 19 per 1,000 births by 2028. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search27"]}/>
These figures indicate the scale of the challenge, but the year and denominator matter when comparing statistics. Stillbirth rates may be reported per 1,000 total births or, in some domestic reporting systems, per 1,000 live births. Those measures are not interchangeable, and estimates from different years should not be treated as direct measures of short-term progress.
The global target adopted through the Every Newborn Action Plan calls for a stillbirth rate of 12 or fewer late stillbirths per 1,000 total births in every country by 2030. The WHO notes that many countries still need additional action to meet that target. <Cite refs={["turn413201search0","turn413201search25"]}/>
For Nigeria, the national target provides a framework for policy and planning. Achieving it would require improvements in healthcare coverage and quality, alongside better records capable of showing whether interventions are reducing losses.
The challenge is that incomplete or inconsistent reporting can make it difficult to determine the country's true burden or identify where the greatest gaps exist. If some facilities fail to record births and deaths consistently, planners may underestimate the needs of particular communities or be unable to compare outcomes reliably between facilities.
That problem can affect resource allocation. A district with incomplete records may appear to have fewer stillbirths than another district with stronger surveillance, even when the difference reflects reporting quality rather than actual risk.
Strengthening data systems is therefore not simply an administrative exercise. It is part of understanding the problem and making clinical improvements possible.
The case for stronger data governance
Emembo identified poor data governance as a major obstacle to faster progress. She said some stillbirths are not captured by health reporting systems, while information that is collected may not be sufficiently analysed or used to guide decisions. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search29"]}/>
A reliable stillbirth surveillance system needs to capture information from community-level services, primary healthcare centres, general hospitals and specialist referral facilities. It should record the outcome of pregnancy, relevant clinical information and the circumstances surrounding each loss, subject to appropriate privacy and confidentiality protections.
Data also need to be checked and analysed. A system that accumulates records without verifying their quality or turning them into useful information cannot reliably guide policy.
The District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) is used in Nigeria for routine health reporting. Emembo said existing systems capture more data from primary healthcare facilities than from some secondary facilities, where complicated pregnancies may be referred. She argued that reporting should be strengthened across all levels of care. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search29"]}/>
That distinction matters because a woman may receive antenatal care at one facility and be transferred to another for delivery or emergency treatment. If records are not connected, the full sequence of care and the final pregnancy outcome may be difficult to reconstruct.
A more complete system could help identify the facilities and regions recording high rates of stillbirth, the timing of deaths, recurring clinical problems and possible delays in referral or treatment.
The information could also support local action. If a facility repeatedly reports complications associated with limited monitoring or delayed emergency response, health authorities could investigate what changes in staffing, equipment, training or referral arrangements are needed.
Nigeria has begun strengthening stillbirth data systems
The problem is receiving attention through existing efforts to improve the visibility and use of stillbirth information.
A 2026 report on the state of stillbirths in Africa describes Nigeria's national Stillbirths Dashboard, developed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the IHVN-IRCE SPEED Project. The report says the dashboard consolidates DHIS2 data across the country's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to support planning, budgeting and response. <Cite refs={["turn413201search29"]}/>
The report notes that dashboard analysis identified Zamfara State as having a high reported stillbirth rate of 53 per 1,000 live births, prompting an expansion of Helping Babies Breathe training in the state. That figure uses a live-birth denominator as reported in the project summary and should not be directly compared with the UN IGME estimate per 1,000 total births. <Cite refs={["turn413201search29","turn874632view1"]}/>
The example illustrates how improved visibility can help policymakers identify a possible need for action. But interpreting the data still requires careful consideration of completeness, definitions, the local population and the reliability of facility reporting.
A dashboard is most useful when its information leads to practical decisions. Authorities need to know not only where reported rates are high, but also what may be causing the pattern and which interventions are likely to address it.
That process includes validating the underlying records, reviewing cases where appropriate, discussing findings with healthcare teams and monitoring whether measures introduced in response lead to improvements.
For stillbirth surveillance to be sustainable, facilities and health authorities also need the staff, skills and time to collect and review information. Digital systems cannot compensate fully for missing clinical records or unclear reporting responsibilities.
Why deaths during labour need particular attention
The WHO estimates that more than 40 per cent of stillbirths worldwide occur during labour. These deaths, commonly described as intrapartum stillbirths, are an important indicator of the quality and timeliness of care during childbirth. <Cite refs={["turn413201search0","turn413201search25"]}/>
Emembo cited studies indicating that more than half of stillbirths in Nigeria occur during labour. Although the exact proportion depends on the source, definition and period studied, both the global and Nigerian figures underline the importance of safe childbirth services. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search29"]}/>
Labour can develop complications requiring skilled assessment and rapid intervention. This makes trained personnel, suitable monitoring equipment, functioning referral systems and the availability of emergency obstetric care important components of prevention.
A facility may receive a woman who has attended antenatal appointments, yet circumstances can change quickly during labour. The ability to recognise a complication and respond without avoidable delay may therefore influence the outcome.
Emembo called for refresher training for nurses and midwives managing obstetric emergencies. She suggested regular training, potentially every year or twice a year where feasible, to help staff maintain their skills and remain familiar with updated practices. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
Training needs to be accompanied by the conditions required to use those skills. Staff cannot provide effective monitoring if they are overwhelmed by excessive workloads, lack essential equipment or cannot obtain timely specialist support.
Emergency obstetric care also requires reliable referral arrangements. When a facility cannot manage a complication, the patient must be transferred to an appropriate service without unnecessary delay. That depends on transport, communication between facilities and a receiving hospital equipped to provide the required care.
Antenatal care remains important
Antenatal care allows healthcare professionals to monitor pregnancy, assess risk factors, provide screening and treatment, and help women prepare for childbirth.
The WHO advises people who have confirmed a pregnancy to contact a health worker early and attend recommended antenatal visits. Such appointments provide opportunities for health assessments, advice, screening and planning for childbirth, including how and where to seek urgent care if warning signs develop. <Cite refs={["turn413201search1"]}/>
Emembo stressed that antenatal appointments should be complemented by appropriate self-care and awareness of changes in pregnancy. A woman may spend most of her time outside a health facility, so understanding when a symptom or change requires prompt assessment can be important. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
Self-care, however, should not be used as a substitute for professional assessment or as a reason to place responsibility for preventable losses solely on pregnant women. Healthcare systems must provide accessible, respectful and timely services, while clinicians explain practical ways patients can participate in their own care.
The quality of antenatal care also matters. Attendance alone does not guarantee that essential screening is performed, that a developing complication is identified or that appropriate follow-up occurs. Services must have the capability to carry out recommended checks and act on their results.
Where women face costs, transport barriers, long distances or difficulty leaving work, consistent attendance can be challenging. Policies that expand access to primary healthcare, improve referral pathways and reduce financial barriers may help women receive care when they need it.
Infections that can affect pregnancy
Emembo highlighted syphilis during pregnancy as one risk factor requiring attention. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can pass from a pregnant woman to her baby and cause serious complications, including stillbirth if it is not detected and appropriately treated. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
Screening during pregnancy can identify infection so that healthcare professionals can provide suitable treatment and follow-up. The WHO promotes integrated approaches to HIV and syphilis testing as part of its efforts to prevent transmission from mother to child. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search1"]}/>
For the health system, the practical task is to make screening accessible, ensure test results are acted upon and provide appropriate treatment in line with clinical guidance.
The issue also illustrates why data and clinical care need to work together. Recorded screening coverage can help authorities identify facilities where services are not reaching enough pregnant women. Follow-up information can show whether people who test positive receive treatment and whether referral arrangements are functioning.
Infections are only one part of the picture, and stillbirths may have multiple contributing factors. An effective maternal-health programme therefore needs a wider approach that includes monitoring, treatment of relevant conditions, emergency response and support for women throughout pregnancy.
Environmental risks and household exposure
The interview also raised concerns about exposure to carbon monoxide from polluting cooking fuels and second-hand smoke during pregnancy. Emembo said such exposure can pose risks because carbon monoxide can interfere with oxygen delivery to the body and may affect the developing baby. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
Household and workplace environments are relevant to maternal health because pregnant women spend much of their time outside healthcare facilities. Some exposures may be difficult to identify during a brief clinic appointment unless healthcare providers ask about living conditions, cooking arrangements or workplace risks.
Reducing exposure to polluting fuels, improving ventilation and avoiding second-hand smoke are examples of measures that can form part of broader health and environmental protection efforts. Advice should be tailored to household circumstances and should not imply that all women have the resources or options to change their fuel source immediately.
Public policy can influence those choices through access to cleaner cooking options, housing conditions, energy programmes and information about environmental health. Healthcare professionals can also help identify relevant risks and explain practical options that are appropriate for individual circumstances.
Environmental factors should be considered alongside clinical risks, rather than used to explain every case of stillbirth. The causes of pregnancy loss vary, and individual cases require appropriate medical assessment.
Monitoring changes in the baby's movement
Emembo also urged pregnant women to be aware of their baby's usual movement pattern and seek prompt medical attention if they notice a significant reduction or change. She said awareness of movement can be important because some complications can develop between scheduled antenatal appointments. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
The relevant advice is to seek clinical assessment when movements change significantly from the usual pattern, rather than attempting to diagnose the cause independently. A change does not confirm that a stillbirth or another complication has occurred, but it can be a reason to contact a healthcare professional urgently.
Healthcare providers should explain the information relevant to each stage of pregnancy and ensure women know where to seek help, including outside routine appointment times. Clear communication is important because patients may be uncertain whether a change requires immediate attention.
The WHO's pregnancy guidance similarly emphasises knowing how and where to seek care for danger signs, establishing a plan for childbirth and understanding how complications should be addressed. <Cite refs={["turn413201search1"]}/>
Access to timely assessment can be affected by distance, transport, cost and whether maternity services are available around the clock. Prevention efforts must therefore address the practical conditions that determine whether women can obtain help when they recognise a possible problem.
The role of clinical monitoring and timely referral
Maternal healthcare involves a sequence of services rather than one appointment or intervention. A woman may receive screening early in pregnancy, return for monitoring, require additional assessment because of an emerging condition and ultimately need specialist support during labour or delivery.
Effective care depends on communication and continuity across those stages. Records should follow the patient appropriately, clinical risks should be communicated during referral, and receiving facilities should be prepared to assess the patient without unnecessary delay.
For women with certain medical conditions or previous pregnancy complications, healthcare providers may recommend closer monitoring. The appropriate plan depends on the individual clinical circumstances and should be determined by qualified professionals.
Emembo noted that women with previous complications, such as pre-eclampsia or recurrent stillbirths, require careful clinical monitoring. She also mentioned gestational diabetes as a condition that needs appropriate management during pregnancy. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
Those examples demonstrate the importance of individualised care. Not every pregnancy carries the same risks, and a single set of recommendations cannot replace an assessment by a healthcare professional.
At facility level, emergency readiness also requires that staff recognise signs of deterioration, understand escalation procedures and can access the appropriate clinical support. Regular training and well-organised referral arrangements are central parts of that preparation.
Capacity gaps in health facilities
Nigeria's maternal-health challenges are affected by the resources available at primary, secondary and specialist healthcare facilities.
Emembo described concerns about shortages of beds, insufficient staffing and limitations in the capacity of some facilities to manage obstetric emergencies. She said women can encounter delays when staff are stretched or when the appropriate level of care is not available. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
These issues can create pressure at different points in the care pathway. A primary health centre may identify a complication but lack the services required to manage it. A referral hospital may have the expertise but face shortages of beds, staff or equipment. In either case, referral communication and the time required to reach appropriate care matter.
Improving outcomes requires more than adding one piece of equipment. Facilities need staff who can use available equipment safely, reliable supplies, clear treatment protocols and arrangements for patients who require more advanced care.
Staffing plans must also account for the demands placed on nurses, midwives and doctors. When too few people are available to monitor multiple patients, it may become harder to provide timely observation and intervention.
The interview called attention to these pressures but did not provide a nationwide inventory of staff shortages, bed availability or emergency obstetric readiness. A systematic assessment would be needed to quantify the gaps by state and facility type.
Better data could help guide those assessments and establish which investments should take priority.
Respectful care after a stillbirth
Prevention is one part of the challenge; care after pregnancy loss is another.
Emembo said perinatal bereavement care remains limited in Nigeria and called for the development and piloting of a protocol that would provide more compassionate support to women and families. She highlighted the psychological burden of loss and the stigma some women experience because of social expectations surrounding motherhood. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1"]}/>
Perinatal bereavement care includes the respectful support provided to parents after the death of a baby during pregnancy or around childbirth. The needs of each family differ, but care may involve clear communication, privacy, compassionate treatment and access to appropriate psychological or social support.
A stillbirth may leave parents with difficult questions about what happened and what the loss means for future pregnancies. The manner in which healthcare workers explain events and respond to grief can influence the family's experience of care.
Stigma can compound that distress. Where women are blamed for a loss or judged by their ability to have children, they may experience additional isolation and emotional pressure.
Healthcare services and community support systems can help by recognising pregnancy loss as a serious bereavement, providing respectful communication and avoiding language that assigns blame without evidence.
The call for a national protocol signals the need to consider bereavement support as part of maternal-health quality, not an optional service after the medical response has ended. Any protocol would need appropriate clinical guidance, staff training and pathways for families needing further support.
Why the health system needs to learn from each case
A review of stillbirth cases can help healthcare providers understand where improvements may be possible. Such reviews need to be conducted carefully, with appropriate clinical expertise, confidentiality and an emphasis on learning rather than unsupported conclusions about individual staff or families.
A review may examine the course of pregnancy, the care provided, the timing of recognition of complications, referral arrangements and the availability of treatment. The findings can help identify patterns that require training, changes to protocols or investment in services.
Reliable data are essential to that process. If a facility cannot establish the number of stillbirths it recorded or the circumstances surrounding the cases, it will be harder to identify recurring problems.
The State of Africa's Stillbirths report highlights fragmented information systems, inconsistent definitions and gaps in the recording of pregnancy outcomes as obstacles to understanding the burden across countries. It also points to Nigeria's work to improve stillbirth data visibility through its dashboard. <Cite refs={["turn413201search29"]}/>
A stronger learning system would connect the information recorded at a facility with state and national monitoring, while allowing clinicians and authorities to use the findings to improve services.
That approach would also help distinguish changes in actual outcomes from changes in the quality of reporting. An apparent increase in recorded stillbirths could, for instance, reflect improved detection and documentation rather than a sudden deterioration in care. Interpreting trends requires attention to both the clinical situation and the data-generation process.
What policymakers can do next
The interview's recommendations point to several areas for action.
First, Nigeria needs to maintain and strengthen its stillbirth surveillance systems. This includes improving the completeness and consistency of records from communities and facilities, making sure that outcomes are classified correctly and using the information to guide local decisions.
Second, the country needs sustained investment in maternal and emergency obstetric care. That includes staffing, appropriate monitoring equipment, referral systems, professional development and the capacity to respond to complications during labour.
Third, antenatal services should support timely screening and management of relevant conditions, while helping pregnant women understand how to access care when something changes. Such support must be respectful and accessible, recognising the cost and transport barriers that can affect attendance.
Fourth, bereavement care should be considered within the design of maternal-health services. Families affected by stillbirth need compassionate communication and access to suitable support.
Finally, performance should be measured against clear indicators. These may include the completeness of stillbirth records, the timeliness of referrals, the availability of emergency obstetric services, training coverage and trends in stillbirth rates using consistent definitions.
The targets already identified in Nigeria's Every Newborn Action Plan provide a basis for monitoring progress. Transparent reporting would help establish whether actions are being implemented and whether they are associated with improved outcomes. <Cite refs={["turn874632view1","turn413201search29"]}/>
A wider public-health priority
Stillbirth prevention is closely connected to the broader quality of maternal and newborn healthcare.
The same services that help prevent some stillbirths—early identification of complications, appropriate antenatal care, skilled attendance during childbirth and effective emergency response—also matter for the safety and wellbeing of mothers and newborn babies more generally.
The WHO has emphasised that childbirth care must include routine monitoring, respectful treatment and timely access to emergency services when required. It also identifies the global stillbirth target as an area requiring sustained action and funding. <Cite refs={["turn413201search0","turn413201search1"]}/>
For Nigeria, progress will depend on how well policies are translated into day-to-day services in communities, primary healthcare centres and referral hospitals.
National targets are useful, but outcomes depend on whether a woman can reach care, whether the facility has the capacity to assess her, whether complications are recognised and whether necessary treatment is provided in time.
Improved data can help authorities identify the weak points in that chain. Stronger clinical services can then address the problems revealed by the records.
Conclusion: better care and better data must advance together
Nigeria's stillbirth challenge requires a coordinated response that combines reliable information, quality maternal healthcare, emergency obstetric capacity and respectful support for families.
Oghome Emembo's warning highlights the importance of knowing the true scale of the problem, improving the monitoring of pregnancy outcomes and strengthening care before and during childbirth. The WHO's international estimates reinforce the need to improve childbirth monitoring and ensure timely access to emergency obstetric services.
Nigeria has already taken steps to improve stillbirth reporting through a national dashboard, but the effectiveness of such systems depends on complete records, consistent definitions and the use of evidence in planning and budgeting.
The country also needs skilled and supported maternity teams, functioning referral pathways and facilities equipped to respond to emergencies. Antenatal care and risk screening remain important, but women must also have access to urgent assessment when complications arise between appointments.
Finally, better prevention must be accompanied by compassionate care when a loss occurs. Families affected by stillbirth should be treated with dignity and offered appropriate support without stigma or blame.
The central task is to turn national commitments and data into practical improvements in healthcare. More reliable reporting can help policymakers see where support is most needed, while improved clinical capacity can help prevent losses that effective care might avert.
The progress of these measures—not announcements alone—will determine whether Nigeria moves closer to its national stillbirth reduction target and the global goal for safer pregnancy and childbirth.
Reporting note: Prepared Friday, 23 October 2026, at 07:20 WAT. This report draws on a 22 October interview with the SPEED Initiative's national lead, WHO guidance and a 2026 report on stillbirth data in Africa. Reported annual counts and rates vary by source, period and denominator; figures should be interpreted accordingly. This article is for public information and does not replace assessment or advice from qualified healthcare professionals.
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