MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES' HEALTH INTERVENTIONS AND MATERNAL, NEWBORN, AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Médecins Sans Frontières, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Humanitarian Health Interventions, Maiduguri Metropolitan CouncilAbstract
This study examined the contribution of Médecins Sans Frontières’ health interventions to maternal, newborn, and child health in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, where conflict, displacement, poverty, insecurity, and weak health infrastructure continue to limit access to essential services. The study used a qualitative research design supported by secondary quantitative programme data. Data were collected through desk-based review of MSF and humanitarian reports, five key informant interviews, and two focus group discussions with mothers and pregnant women. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis, while programme figures were used descriptively to support interpretation. Findings showed that MSF’s interventions included emergency obstetric and newborn care, support to basic maternal health facilities, paediatric treatment, nutrition services, mobile clinics, referral support, and community health education. Programme data showed high service utilisation, including more than 45,000 outpatient consultations for children under five, over 8,000 deliveries, a 20% increase in antenatal care attendance, and mobile clinic use accounting for about 35% of maternal, newborn, and child health consultations. More than 3,000 severely malnourished children were also admitted, with a reported recovery rate of 85%. Interview and focus group findings suggested that MSF improved access to care, reduced financial barriers, encouraged facility-based care, and supported earlier treatment seeking among women and caregivers. However, long waiting times, low postnatal care uptake, insecurity-related service fluctuations, and sustainability concerns remained challenges. The study concludes that MSF has contributed meaningfully to service access, utilisation, and selected health outcomes, but stronger follow-up, referral tracking, outreach, monitoring, and health system integration are needed.
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