In a groundbreaking move to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, Nigeria has launched the Maternal and Perinatal Database and Dignity Programme (MPD-4-QED) across 54 hospitals nationwide. The initiative is reshaping how obstetric care is monitored and evaluated, introducing real-time data collection that tracks critical metrics such as caesarean section rates, labour companionship, and breastfeeding at discharge.
The programme, which has already begun yielding insights, is designed to identify and address the root causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Data gathered through MPD-4-QED is being used to inform clinical decisions and policy interventions, with findings published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Topics under review include preterm birth, postpartum hemorrhage, birth asphyxia, and neonatal sepsis—conditions that contribute significantly to Nigeria’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.
Health experts say the MPD-4-QED programme marks a major step forward in Nigeria’s commitment to evidence-based healthcare and dignity-driven maternal services. By leveraging hospital-level data, the initiative aims to foster accountability, improve clinical practices, and ultimately save lives.
