Essay About Zamfara

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area

Zamfara state is located in the North-Western part of Nigeria at Latitude 120 N and Longitude 60 E with an altitude of 420m. Zamfara was carved out of the former Sokoto state on the 1st October, 1996. It occupies a land area of about 38,418 Square kilometres. It is bounded in the North by Sokoto state and the Republic of Niger, in the West by Kebbi and Niger States, in the east by Katsina state and Kaduna state in the South.

Methodology

A total of sixty four (64) Islamic religious leaders were interviewed –Forty four (44) males and twenty (20) females were interviewed using open ended questions and an interview guide. Also Six (6) focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted for three (3) male and

RESULTS

1) Knowledge of the Islamic Religious Leaders on Maternal Health Issues

The Islamic religious leaders’ knowledge and understanding of the maternal health issues was high especially on maternal health issues from the Islamic perspectives and viewpoint. All the Islamic religious leaders have known one or more women that lost their lives during child birth or as result of pregnancy. Some of them mentioned having to conduct the funeral prayer of some of the women who lost their lives during or giving birth. The religious leaders observed that it’s pathetic and something that is of concern not only to donor partners but to state governments and other stakeholders.

The religious leaders are of the opinion that much needed to be done avert and reduce these deaths and morbidities among women, they all see themselves as having a role to play especially in enlightening and informing the public of the maternal death situation in their localities. One of the respondents has this to say “maternal health is encompassed in the Islamic injunctions as part of the role of the husband to ensure that his wife is healthy during