Chijioke Iremeka
…Gynaecologists lament rising trend
Maternal health experts are worried about the pronouncements of some pastors and their activities in health matters relating to pregnancy and delivery. These have denied a lot of pregnant women access to specialist care and have led to the death of women during childbirth, CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports
Late Bucky Adebowale was hale and hearty during her first trimester until hypertension set in at the late stage of her pregnancy.
According to her elder sister, Sola Osundare who was still grieving her demise, Adebowale was eagerly awaiting the birth of her first baby, but it was just a dream that never came to pass.
Tragedy struck when Adebowale was 37 weeks gone as the late 28-year-old teacher was reportedly diagnosed with severe high blood pressure at a private hospital she registered for antenatal care.
Osundare told PUNCH Healthwise that her late sister’s pregnancy was filled with anticipation and hope as the time for delivery drew closer, but that all ended when her blood pressure skyrocketed and she experienced a serious problem.
She said, “She was doing fine at the early and middle stages of the pregnancy until she was diagnosed with severe high blood pressure. She was placed on treatment and was managing it with the hope that it could be managed up to 39 weeks. But one Tuesday afternoon, the husband called me to say that she collapsed after she returned from school and had been rushed to the hospital.
“So, I quickly rushed to see her in the hospital where she was receiving treatment. After she was revived, the doctor booked her for an emergency caesarean section to save her life and that of her unborn child, but she turned it down.”
Maternal health experts say elevated blood pressure/hypertension is the highest silent and dangerous killer of pregnant women in Africa.
According to them, BP is never constant, it can change at any time, and that is why regular checks on it become very necessary.
Osundare recounted that her late sister’s confidence in her pastor’s prayers and declaration of giving birth to her baby like Hebrew women beclouded her sense of reasoning as she blatantly refused to heed the doctor’s advice and turned down the CS delivery.
Adebowale’s pastor, our correspondent gathered, is a well-respected figure in the community, consistently preaching about divine intervention and the power of faith in overcoming medical challenges.
Her sister also told PUNCH Healthwise that her late sister’s pastor also preached against certain modern medical interventions, including CS and In-vitro fertilisation treatment for fertility-challenged couples.
“She refused to go for the CS and asked her husband to take her to her church for her pastor to pray for her. She said it was not her portion to give birth through CS that her pastor had already told her that she would deliver like the Hebrew women. So, the husband agreed because he also attends the same Pentecostal church and she was taken there despite the doctor’s warning that it was dangerous for her to wait further. Unfortunately, she died two days later with the baby in her womb while her pastor was still praying for her for a successful delivery”, Osundare recounted fighting back tears.
Miracle products
Religious leaders asking their members to shun modern medicine for divine intervention is not new, there have been several reported cases of such incidents.
One of such religious leader is Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto of Christ MercyLand Delivery Ministries, Sapele Road, Delta State, who engaged in similar preaching and also produced several ‘miracle products’ for his members to serve as divine interventions for different diseases, including infertility, hypertension, diabetes, among others.
The Minister showcased the use of ‘Miracle Water’ and ‘Miracle Soap’ on social media and declared that the products heal barrenness and make women bear twins when used.
However, in a swift response, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on September 8, 2024, issued a release and warned Nigerians against patronising ‘miracle products.’
The agency in a statement by its Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the products were not registered with NAFDAC.
“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public that none of these products being advertised and sold are registered with NAFDAC. The public is also being advised to stop patronising any of these ‘miracle products.’ NAFDAC is a scientific organisation that is guided by verifiable scientific facts before registering any product,” the statement stated.
Also commenting, maternal health experts lamented that reliance on a pastor’s spiritual guidance against medical counselling had sent many pregnant women and their unborn babies to their early graves leaving their families to grieve endlessly.
They noted that pregnant women seeking spiritual solutions rather than going to the hospital for proper treatment contributed to the high maternal mortality in the country.
According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, there are an estimated 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in Nigeria.
Similarly, a 2023 report by the World Health Organisation titled ‘Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth: Progress Report 2023,’ revealed that Nigeria took second place after India in the latest ranking of countries with the highest number of maternal and child mortality.
According to the report, in 2020, about 540 women and children per thousand died in Nigeria, while 788 women and children died per thousand in India.
Nigeria was also said to account for 12 per cent of global maternal, and neonatal deaths and stillbirths, and India was pegged at 17 per cent.
Chose pastor’s counsel over her life
36-year-old Mrs Obianuju Ekpo was another victim who lost her life because of her continuous belief in ‘miracle water and salt’ while ignoring critical health warnings.
According to her distant cousin identified as Josephine, Ekpo was advised by her doctor to undergo a CS due to her narrow pelvic structure, which posed a significant risk for a safe vaginal delivery, but she refused.
“The doctor said that the medical recommendation was clear as a CS was the safer option to ensure both her and her baby’s well-being during childbirth, but she insisted that the ‘holy water and salt’ mixture given to her by her pastor would help,” Josephine lamented.
Speaking further, Josephine said the pastor told Ekpo that opting for a CS would open the door for Satan to harm her, framing the situation and describing it as spiritual warfare rather than medical necessity.
She added that the pastor’s warning tapped into Ekpo’s fears and beliefs, convincing her that choosing the CS could lead to her death through supernatural means rather than medical complications.
“Ekpo’s decision not to undergo the cesarean section was heavily influenced by her religious beliefs and the authority of her pastor. She was busy drinking holy water and bathing.
“Despite all that we told her, she believed that she could push it. She was made to understand what she was going into but she chose the pastor’s words over her life.
“She claimed that the pastor had told her many things that turned out to be real in her life, so she will believe him. She was not moved despite our pleas,” she said.
Despite the clear medical advice and the risks associated with a vaginal birth given her narrow pelvis, Josephine said Ekpo chose to follow her pastor’s guidance.
She, however, lamented that this decision ultimately had fatal consequences on Ekpo, as she succumbed to complications during labour that a CS could have potentially prevented.
Olive oil failed Ujunwa
Ujunwa was another pregnant woman who lost her life to the cold hands of death because she chose to follow her pastor’s prophecy that she would deliver like a Hebrew woman
It was gathered that the doctors had prescribed a cesarean section for Ujunwa because her baby was tightly bound by the umbilical cord and could not be delivered vaginally.
Unfortunately for this Anambra State-born, this condition posed severe risks to both her and her child, but she lacked the funds for CS.
She strongly believed that she would be fine with the prayers of the saints.
Narrating the incident to our correspondent, a nurse at the hospital, Fidelia Okoro said despite the urgent advice from her healthcare providers, Ujunwa and her family placed their faith in religious intervention, hoping for a miracle.
The nurse said Ujunwa opted for a divine resolution using anointed oil, rather than proceeding with the CS that could have saved both lives.
Okoro added, “During this critical period, the baby’s condition worsened as time progressed. The medical team’s attempts at a vaginal birth were futile, and by the time her family finally agreed to the CS, it was too late.
“When the surgery was eventually performed, the baby was already deceased, and the delay proved fatal for Ujunwa as well.”
PUNCH Healthwise observed that many women have gone to their early graves because they prefer to listen to the advice of their pastors rather than allow a common medical procedure to prevent complications during birth.
While spiritual and religious beliefs are important to many individuals, reproductive experts insisted that these practices should not replace or disregard established medical knowledge, especially in life-threatening situations.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent in different interviews, gynaecologists said that religious leaders should be sensitive to the implications of their advice to vulnerable followers, understanding the potential impact on individuals’ health and well-being.
Narrow pelvic indication for CS
Prof George Eleje
A Professor and Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, George Eleje, said a narrow pelvis is an absolute indication of CS.
Eleje explained that any attempt for vaginal delivery won’t work unless the baby is small, noting that normal babies or babies with big weight, will not come out.
He warned that as the delay continues, the baby will die and the mother may die too.
The don said where the mother survives, she would have developed a long-lasting deformity including a vesico-vaginalfistula, an abnormal connection between the bladder (which stores urine) and the vagina.
The reproductive expert stated, “Narrow pelvic has an absolute indication for CS and if they refused, there will be an obstructed labour, also known as labour dystocia. This means that the baby is not exiting the pelvis because it is physically blocked.
“The implication is that the baby will die. As the baby is not getting enough oxygen, it may result in the death of the baby and that of the mother. But if the mother survives, it will cause long-lasting damage to her.
“She will come down with urinary incontinence or perivaginal masses or vesicovaginal fistula. If you have a fistula, urine will leak from the vagina, and since the vagina is not designed to hold urine, you will not be able to control this.
“While they are trying this, she may have a rupture in the womb and then it will resort to surgery, which they earlier rejected. We need to educate the women on their health and pelvic structure.
“In most cases, we bring in their spiritual heads and educate them and whereby there was unfavourable outcome due to their decision, we will still call them to see the impact of their decision on the deceased.”
Adherence to doctor’s advice key
Dr Judiet Ugbechie
A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Bayelsa State, Dr. Judiet Ugbechie, emphasised the critical importance of prioritising medical advice over spiritual guidance for pregnant women.
She highlighted that there are compelling reasons behind the recommendation for a CS, noting with concern that many expectant mothers still choose to follow personal or pastoral advice instead of adhering to professional recommendations.
Ugbechie pointed out that spiritual leaders often significantly influence the decisions of pregnant women, sometimes leading them to disregard medical counsel.
The maternal health expert stressed that CS recommendations are based on essential medical considerations, adding that in some cases, these recommendations are necessary to ensure the safety of both the mother and the baby.
She explained, “The reason for a CS may be absolute, indicating that there is no alternative option. In such cases, if a CS is not performed, it could result in the death of the baby or both the baby and the mother.”
She explained that certain medical conditions make vaginal delivery impossible or extremely dangerous.
“For instance, if a woman’s placenta is positioned before the baby, it poses a severe risk of bleeding and could result in the baby’s death if a CS is not performed.
“Similarly, if the baby is lying in a transverse position, vaginal delivery is not feasible, as the baby cannot be pushed through the birth canal in that orientation,” she said.
Ugbechie also noted that vaginal births are conceivable in rare circumstances in which the mother’s pelvis is exceptionally flexible and the baby weighs less than 1.5 kg.
The reproductive expert stressed that these are absolute indications for a CS, meaning there are no viable alternatives if the health of both the mother and the baby is to be safeguarded.
She lamented that some women refuse medical advice and seek alternative methods based on personal or spiritual beliefs.
She stressed that when complications arise, it is often too late for effective intervention.
The gynaecologist emphasised that specialists base their recommendations on extensive experience and a variety of factors, including the strength of contractions and other critical parameters.
Dr Cynthia Okafor
Corroborating her statement, another Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Epe General Hospital, Epe, Lagos State, Dr Cynthia Okafor said religion is a personal issue that shouldn’t be rated above medical in a critical situation like childbirth.
While admitting that the hospital encounters people against CS based on religion regularly, the maternal health expert said the specialists had to engage the family in deep conversation to explain its importance before many of them agree to it.
She noted, “While I believe in God’s miracles, I will not want to tempt God too. There are situations in which you need a direct medical procedure. In the case of a woman with a narrow pelvis and a big baby, I don’t think there is any other solution except CS.
“These religious leaders are very influential in these women’s lives and decision-making. So we encourage the pastor to advise them accordingly. My husband is a pastor but he will tell you to take your medications according to the doctors’ prescription and listen to medical advice, while he will be praying for you.
“This is what others should do and not allow these women to die out of ignorance. So we use this opportunity to tell pastors and other spiritual leaders who advised these women against CS to stop and allow them to do their medical treatments anywhere and how they want it.
“The more they delay, the more dangerous it becomes because accepting after much delay, may affect the outcome; it can lead to serious complications and death.”
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