Maternal health information in Nigeria: The myth and the beliefs

The influence of cultural beliefs on maternal health information and the sources of these information on maternal health in Nigeria was studied. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 1,706 participants from the six geo - political zones. Information was retrieved using questionnaire while variables formulated in the study were tested using chi square statistical tool. Awareness of maternal health information among the participants is high though were various beliefs at the detriment of maternal health in participants was noted, for instance, 67.0% of the participants believe people should have as many children as possible, 42.0% opined infertile couple should wait for God‘s time while 81.5% believe that child spacing is ungodly. The source of maternal health information was hospital (22.3%), radio (18.6%), internet (13.2%), friends (12.4%), television (12.2%), school (10.8%) and family (10.5%). Dissemination of adequate information on maternal health in local and pidgin languages is strongly recommended. Keyword: Maternal Health, Maternal Mortality, Cultural Beliefs, Nigeria