MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO TREND IN NIGERIA

The objective of the study is to assess the trends in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) using Poisson probability distribution in order to ascertain whether the policies, programmes and declarations aimed at reducing the scourge of Maternal Deaths in Nigeria have been met. The study relied on secondary data published by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the Nigeria Demography and Health Survey. A Poisson recursive formula, Gini Coefficient and Lorenz Curve was used to analyze the data. The Poisson modelp rovides expectedfrequencies that are remarkably similar to the actual frequency of MMR. The two sets offigures are sufficiently similar for the study to accept that the Poisson process is an adequate statement of the distribution of MMR. The calculated Gini coefficient obtained was 0.834 representing the high inequality of the temporal distribution of the number of deaths of children in relation to the number of live births, this clearly vitiates the government's desire to establish a just and egalitarian society in which there is (proportional) equality ofo pportunity for all. The Lorenz Curve shows that 50% of death ofc hildren during the period in question in Nigeria occurred in 32% of the population of live births. Accordingly, the remaining 68% represents the underprivileged or disadvantaged population which is quite sizable. We conclude that the evidence does not contradict the belief that modest gains in MMR reduction appear to have been achieved in Nigeria in the past 25 years.