Emergency obstetric care resources availability and service provision in Zaria LGA, Kaduna State

Background: At least four out of ten women will develop unpredictable complications during pregnancy, childbirth and time after delivery which if not treated, contributes to the high observed maternal mortality worldwide. Access to Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) has been identified as one of the key strategies for maternal mortality reduction. This study assessed the availability of EmOC resources and service provision in Zaria Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, North Western Nigeria. Methods: Using a cross-sectional descriptive study, twenty public and private health facilities that offered antenatal care and delivery services in Zaria LGA of Kaduna State were studied in July 2012. Data was collected on availability of EmOC resources and services using checklist and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: None of the primary health care facilities had up to four midwives recommended for 24 hours delivery services, while five of the eight secondary health facilities (62.5%) had at least four midwives. There was dearth of equipment and drugs for EmOC service provision as only 10.0% primary health facilities and 40.0% of secondary health facilities had adequate equipment and drugs to provide EmOC service. Only two secondary health facilities (25%) performed signal functions recommended for comprehensive EmOC facility and additional three secondary health facilities (37.5%) performed signal functions recommended for basic EmOC facility, however, none of the primary health care facilities performed signal functions recommended for Basic EmOC facility. Availability of equipment was the only factor found to be significantly associated with EmOC service provision in the facilities (p = 0.032), but when stratified based on level of care (primary and secondary), no significantly associated was found (p = 0.429). Conclusion: Health facilities in Zaria LGA lacked adequate resources to provide EmOC services and EmOC service provision was abysmally low. Health planners and policy makers should step up interventions for providing the necessary resources to accelerate the attainment of Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5)