Nigeria, Nov. 14 -- Women in northern Nigeria continue to bear a disproportionate burden of maternal deaths, with the Northwest and Northeast geopolitical zones accounting for about three-quarters of reported fatalities in health facilities, according to the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) Statistical Book.

The report also highlights significant disparities in maternal health outcomes between rural and urban areas, with rural women recording a maternal mortality ratio of 656 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 444 deaths per 100,000 live births in urban areas.

Produced by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the report reviews the third year of implementation of the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint. It was presen...