In a society where patriarchal norms persist, Nigerian women ingeniously secure optimal healthcare by adeptly managing imbalanced power dynamics with their male counterparts. Rooted in a cultural backdrop where authority is typically vested in men, resulting in their dominant influence across various facets of life, the repercussions of this reality ripple into women’s health and their decision-making concerning healthcare matters.
While women’s well-being is intricately intertwined with medical aspects and childbirth, the intricate tapestry of cultural behaviors and traditions also plays a significant role. Beyond medical conditions, factors such as gender-specific access to healthcare and employment opportunities intricately interplay, ultimately shaping individuals’ capacities to lead healthy lives.
Renowned Nigerian feminist scholar Obioma Nnaemeka encapsulates feminism within an African context as a subtle art of negotiation and compromise. This unique paradigm, aptly coined “negofeminism,” pivots on the concept of “give and take” rather than confrontational standoffs.
Surveying the terrain of women’s interactions with authority, our findings illuminate their strategic navigation. Women adeptly assign decision-making roles to their male spouses while maintaining a subtle influence over crucial pregnancy-related healthcare choices and actions. The principles of alliance, community, and interconnectedness that underscore negofeminism come to life through the constructive involvement of men in matters of maternal health.
Importantly, our research underscores that women are far from being passive bystanders. Instead, they adroitly maneuver within patriarchal constructs to secure optimal maternal health outcomes by establishing control over their healthcare decisions.
Acknowledging this form of agency stands as a crucial cornerstone for shaping policies and initiatives that genuinely recognize the nuanced interplay between women’s broader social environments and their health outcomes.
Within Nigeria’s context, the limited access to quality healthcare contributes to an alarming statistic: 556 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births. In a stark revelation, UNICEF reports that Nigeria shoulders a staggering 10% of the global burden of pregnancy-related fatalities.
Certain scholars assert that women’s ability to seek healthcare hinges on their autonomy to make independent choices. Nonetheless, this stance tends to overlook the intricate realities that govern women’s lives, wherein their social networks comprising mothers, grandmothers, spouses, and community members profoundly influence their utilization of healthcare services.
Intriguingly, our study affirms that the social dimensions at play need not necessarily hinder women’s autonomy; rather, they can coalesce to amplify it.
Therefore, it becomes increasingly vital to contextualize discussions around maternal health within the African framework while incorporating the nuanced experiences of being “African” and “women.”
The mechanism of women diplomatically conveying their healthcare preferences to men can be construed as a subtle negotiation strategy, enabling them to exert influence over access to maternal healthcare. Within this dynamic, the woman astutely acknowledges the patriarchal milieu and designates the sphere of decision-making authority to men. Simultaneously, she deftly wields her personal agency within this realm.
Embedded within the study are discernible notions of men’s shared responsibility and collective action concerning maternal health. In these closely-knit communities, men’s roles as expectant fathers predominantly revolve around providing financial support to defray the costs associated with pregnancy, encompassing clinic visits, delivery expenses, essential medications, and nourishment.
Arguably, the act of entrusting decision-making authority to men enables women to leverage their commitment and duty as providers. The women themselves attest to the infeasibility of shouldering the formidable costs of maternal healthcare independently, indicating an intricate interplay of mutual reciprocity.
Notably, a subset of women covertly expressed their defiance towards men’s involvement in their pregnancies. Their accounts of discreetly seeking maternal healthcare without involving their partners underscored their sense of control over their own lives.
What emerges from this study is a vivid portrayal of patriarchy endowing men with power over decisions and financial resources. Nonetheless, women’s agency doesn’t lay dormant; it springs to life as they adeptly maneuver around these confines, ensuring their access to skilled healthcare during the pivotal phase of pregnancy.
The study unequivocally demonstrates that maternal health transcends individual responsibility; it metamorphoses into a communal and national concern. Ignoring this multifaceted reality bears the potential to undercut well-intentioned programs and policies designed to enhance women’s health and well-being.
