How Family Planning Helped Cut Maternal Deaths By 60% In Kano

By Samira Adnan

Maternal deaths during childbirth have long been a tragic reality in northern Nigeria, especially in Kano State. But over the past decade, new research has revealed remarkable progress: the number of women dying during childbirth in Kano has dropped dramatically — from 1,025 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014 to 377 in 2024.

Official data indicates promising progress. The Kano State Primary Healthcare Board has introduced a Family Planning Strategic Plan (2025–2030) aimed at reaching 845,114 women of reproductive age, with a dedicated budget of ₦500 million to support childbirth spacing programmes. While the figures remain high by global standards, the improvement represents a significant 60% decline, raising a key question: what made this possible?

Partnerships Driving Progress

Findings from field research show that the reduction is largely due to collaborative efforts between the Kano State Government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community stakeholders who have worked to raise awareness and improve access to maternal health services.

Among the most influential groups is MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving women’s reproductive health through family planning and birth spacing education.

Through partnerships with local hospitals and community health centers, MSI Nigeria has deployed trained health workers who provide counseling, birth control pills, injections, implants, and other services — free of charge.

Hadiza Ado, one of the MSI officers at Autan Bawo Clinic and Maternity Hospital in Rano, explained the progress being made in raising awareness among women.

“When we started this programme, there was truly a great improvement in awareness. Every day we see an increase in the number of women accepting family planning. Each month, we record between 130 and 140 women adopting the method.”

Changing Minds, Saving Lives

Before such initiatives took root, many women in Kano — and their husbands — resisted family planning due to cultural and religious misconceptions; many believed that using birth control was un-Islamic or meant permanently stopping childbirth.
Community leaders, health professionals, and religious scholars have since played a pivotal role in debunking these myths.

“At first, I resisted family planning because I thought it contradicted Islam,” said Bello Hussaini, a 40-year-old youth leader and father of four in Rano.

“But I later learned it’s not about stopping childbirth — it’s about spacing for the health of the mother and child. It’s been two years now, and we’ve had no problems.”

Similarly, Balarabe Ismail, also from Rano, shared that family planning saved his wife’s life after repeated miscarriages.

“The doctors advised spacing after complications from our first child. Since then, Alhamdulillah, there’s been no problem. The gap between our last two children is six years now.”

Faith Leaders at the Forefront

Religious and traditional institutions have been instrumental in driving acceptance.
Malam Sulaiman Ibrahim, Chief Imam of Kanyar Utai Juma’at Mosque, explained:

“We now enlighten people during sermons that family planning doesn’t go against Islam. Only those not enlightened still resist.”

The Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umar, also confirmed a sharp rise in families embracing birth spacing.

“We worked with imams and traditional rulers to spread the message. People now understand that it’s not about stopping childbirth, but about giving time between births for health and stability.”

Women Leading the Change

At Wudil General Hospital, several women shared how birth spacing had improved their lives.
Shamsiya Malam, a trader and mother of three, said:

“I started spacing after my second child. I used an IUD for five years, then switched to injectables. Now I enjoy the peace of having children well-spaced. It reduces stress and allows me to care better for them.”

Hauwa’u Yahya, a 26-year-old mother of four, said she turned to child spacing after a stillbirth.

“After losing my last baby and suffering blood loss, the doctors advised me to rest. My husband agreed to try birth spacing so I could recover. Four months in, I already feel stronger.”

A Model Worth Expanding

The Kano experience demonstrates that maternal health outcomes improve significantly when women have access to quality health care, family planning options, and support from both religious and traditional leaders.

Experts now say that the model could be replicated in other states if the government and NGOs sustain funding, expand community education, and continue to engage faith-based networks.

As Kano’s progress shows, family planning isn’t just about birth control — it’s about saving lives.

This story was supported by Nigeria Health Watch, in partnership with MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices and the Family Planning News Network (FPNN), through the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.