NURSE LED INTERVENTIONS FOR REDUCING MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN LOW INCOME AREAS

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant health issue in low-income communities, largely due to limited access to quality maternal healthcare services, inadequate medical facilities, and insufficient community awareness. Nurses play a central role in maternal health through prenatal care, safe delivery practices, postnatal support, and community education. This study examined the effect of nurse-led care on maternal mortality, identified barriers to implementing such interventions in resource-constrained settings, and explored the importance of autonomy, education, and training of nurses in improving maternal health outcomes. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted. A total of 385 nurses completed a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The instrument assessed nurse-led interventions, availability of healthcare resources, community involvement, and maternal mortality prevention. Data were analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The instrument demonstrated high reliability with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.973. Results: Nurse-led interventions, healthcare resource availability, community awareness and engagement, and maternal mortality reduction showed high mean scores (20.15, 20.85, 20.82, and 20.61, respectively). Significant positive correlations were found between nurse-led interventions and maternal mortality reduction (r = 0.752, p < 0.001), healthcare resource availability and maternal mortality reduction (r = 0.843, p < 0.001), and community awareness and engagement and maternal mortality reduction (r = 0.867, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate that nurse-led interventions, supported by adequate healthcare resources and strong community participation, are critical in reducing maternal mortality in low-income communities. Strengthening nurses’ autonomy, education, and training, along with improving resource availability and community engagement, is essential for achieving better maternal health outcomes.