ABSTRACT
Introduction: The greatest
effect of maternal mortality is renowned in children aged 2 - 5 months whose mothers had died. Children whose
mothers died due to maternal complications were likely to record a higher
mortality in infancy compared to children of surviving mothers. Motherless
children mostly suffer a lot due to lack of day-to-day care, isolation, lack of
motivation as well as economic cost associated with mother’s death. Thus, the
purpose of this study was to ascertain the lives of children whose mothers
passed away during childbirth at the Sagnarigu Municipality. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was carried
out at the Sagnarigu Municipal. The study recruited 297 respondents. To
assess the effects of maternal death on the lives of children, families that
experienced maternal death were assessed. The number
of pregnancies experienced by the deceased woman, pregnancy-related
complaints experienced, determinants of maternal death, number of children
alive, and their standard of living were assessed with the
aid of a structured questionnaire. Results: The data showed that negligence, illiteracy, poor road access, poverty, ignorance, delays in
recognizing the problem, delays in making appropriate decisions, delays in the
health facility, delays in giving the appropriate treatments, and traditional
beliefs were some of the factors that led to maternal death in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Conclusion: The study concluded that determinants of
maternal death in the Sagnarigu Municipal included the following; negligence, illiteracy,
poverty, and delays in recognizing the problem. The study findings also
demonstrated that the effects of maternal death on children are diverse and cut
across different areas of a child’s life including livelihood sustenance,
healthcare, education, and emotional and psychological development.