Abstract
In rural Nigeria, where socioeconomic, healthcare, cultural, and geographic variables combine to worsen the problem, maternal death is still a major public health concern. Despite various national and international initiatives, Nigeria continues to exhibit one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally. This narrative review examines the multifaceted determinants contributing to rising maternal mortality in rural regions of the country, including limited healthcare infrastructure, a reliance on traditional birth attendants, pervasive poverty, and cultural practices that delay access to skilled obstetric care. Rural women face numerous barriers to timely and effective medical intervention, including insufficient healthcare facilities, inadequate emergency obstetric care, poor transportation networks, and a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. Additionally, cultural norms that favor home births and the use of traditional remedies further hinder efforts to reduce maternal deaths. This review critically analyzes the disparity in maternal health outcomes between rural and urban areas and explores the influence of public health policies, community health workers, and grassroots interventions. Furthermore, the review proposes targeted strategies aimed at mitigating maternal mortality, including the expansion of healthcare infrastructure, the enhancement of family planning services, the implementation of comprehensive public health education campaigns, and the improvement of transportation networks. These interventions are crucial in addressing the persistent high maternal mortality rates in rural Nigeria and achieving substantial progress toward the reduction of preventable maternal deaths.