CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Background to the Study
1.1 Introduction
Of all the Millennium
Development Goals, the least progress has been made on goal Number Five (MDG
5): Reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters by the year 2015.
(UNICEF 2009).
Every day, about
1,500 women across the globe die because of complications during pregnancy or
childbirth, and 98 percent of these deaths, half a million annually, occur in
developing countries. Another 10 to 20 million women develop physical or mental
disabilities every year as a result of complicated pregnancies and deliveries.
(WHO Report: 2008).
Sub-Saharan Africa leads this death toll, accounting for 50
percent of all maternal deaths worldwide, and South Asia
accounts for another 35 percent (UN Millennium Declaration). In addition to the
tragedy of these preventable deaths, high maternal mortality comes with a high
cost to the rest of society. Costs are both direct, including the cost of
health care (either to families or to the health system), and indirect, in the
form of income and productivity lost for both the mother and the family (child
health, growth, and education all suffer when mothers die) (Gill et al. 2007).
The recent progress report on the subject, Countdown to
2015: Tracking Progress in Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival, defines
as “high” any Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 300 or more maternal deaths per
100,000 live births. Currently, 60 countries have MMR levels this high (UNICEF
2008).
The regions (excluding high-income countries) that had the
highest aggregate MMR in 2005 are Sub-Saharan Africa (900 deaths per 100,000
live births) and South Asia (500). These stand
in extreme contrast to the average rate among high-income countries, which was
just 9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in that same year. Worldwide,
the average maternal mortality ratio has declined at a rate of less than one
percent per year between 1990 and 2005, according to the 2007
WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA/World Bank report on maternal mortality (WHO 2007).
Of all health indicators, maternal mortality reveals the
greatest gap between rich and poor women, both between and within countries.
Health experts agree that the interventions needed to avert much of the burden
of maternal death. However, it has become increasingly clear that the success
of these interventions depends on the capacity of the health system and the
role play by mass media in each country to deliver quality care as well as
creating awareness and especially in girls’ education, family planning, good roads,
and available transport for emergencies.
There is no
gain saying in the fact that mass media especially radio and television have a
lot of responsibilities in the effort to reduce maternal mortality in our
society. Apart from the responsibility of the mass media to entertain, it is
also the priority of the mass media to educate, enlighten, sensitizing of
varieties of issues which health is not an exceptional.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
High level of
illiteracy, poverty and cultural background have been attributed to increase in
the number of maternal mortality in the world especially in sub shah Africa. This background have made many of them remain
ignorant of what maternal mortality is all about including family planning
concept.
Apart from
that many are residing in remote part of the society especially in the village
where there poor infrastructural facilities like access to good health care,
good road electricity, good water and access to radio and television.
However, what
mass media have been able to do and what they can do to reduce this curable
risk of life in our society will be addressed in this research work.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.
To examine whether mass
media see women education as its responsibility.
2.
To know how often mass
media reach women in Boripe local government
on maternal health Programme.
3.
To study if mass media
serve as platform for women to discuss health matters.
4.
To know some of the
challenges facing mass media in reducing maternal mortality?
5.
To know the extent which
mass media able to reduce maternal mortality in Boripe Local Government?
1.4 Research Questions
6.
Do mass media see
educating women as their responsibility?
7.
How often do mass
media reach women in Boripe local government on
maternal health Programme?
8.
Do mass media serve as
platform for women to discuss health matters?
9.
What are the
challenges facing mass media in reducing maternal
mortality?
10.
To what extent has
mass media being able to reduce maternal mortality in Boripe Local Government?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significant of this study aims at revealing to the
media practitioners and broadcast students, the role of mass media in reducing
maternal death.
Media
Practitioners:
The study will assist the media practitioners to know its role in keeping women
informed concerning maternal related issues.
Government and Health Agencies:
must partner with media in order to success in their various campaign
activities to take their message to the target women.
Future Researcher: Researchers who will be
writing on this aspect or related one will fine this word very interesting and serve as a reference materials.
1.6 Scope of the Study
Although, the primary aim and
objective of the project is to examine the role of mass media in eradicating maternal
death. The topic itself has limited the scope of this study through the use of
Boripe Local Government as a case study.
However, this can not be
effectively talked without considering the demographic factor of the people in
Boripe Local Government that respond to the questionnaires of this study.
Experience, education
background, age, sex e. t. c must be considered before the distribution of
research instruments.
1.7 Limitation to the Study
Wide research of this nature
cannot be carried out without some constrains, this constrains pose a lot of
limitations to this work.
Ø
Duration
for the research work is relatively short.
Ø
Stress
emanated from other academic activities is also another constrain.
Ø
Little
materials are also available because the work is relatively new.
Ø
Financial
constrain poses another challenges.
However, because of the
aforementioned constrains, the scope of this research shall be narrowed down to
Nigeria,
in which discussion and analyses will revolves.
1.8 Definition of the Terms
Mass Media: These are device of mass dissemination of information to a
wider audience such as: radio, television and newspapers.
Role: This simply means the functions or the impact.
Eradicating : It means solving, cubing, reduce or minimizing.
Maternal Mortality/Death:
Death of women during birth or
pregnancy.
