Perinatal Mortality in Nigeria: Do Place of Delivery and Delivery Assistants Matter?

Background: Studies in developed countries have shown that deliveries which occur at home and under the supervision of unskilled attendants present a high risk of perinatal death. However, it is unclear, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where studies are limited, on precisely how these factors may influence perinatal mortality. This is particularly of interest considering that majority of births in SSA occur at home under the supervision of unskilled attendants and perinatal mortality in the sub-region is about five times that of the developed world. This study aims to determine the extent to which these factors influence perinatal mortality in Nigeria in order to inform maternal and child health policy decisions.