Ending Caesarean Section Myths: Saving Mothers in Nigeria

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By Editorial Team

In Nigeria today, Caesarean Section (CS) remains one of the most misunderstood medical procedures, despite being a proven and lifesaving intervention. Instead of being seen as a safe alternative to natural delivery when complications arise, CS is too often demonized, feared, and wrapped in layers of cultural and religious myths. This dangerous stigma continues to put mothers and babies at risk, feeding Nigeria’s already high maternal mortality rate.

Myths That Kill

Among many Nigerians, CS is wrongly believed to be a curse, a sign of weakness, or a punishment for lack of faith. Some communities even preach that women who cannot deliver naturally are not “real mothers.” In churches, mosques, and even antenatal prayer sessions, women are sometimes told to reject CS, pray against it, or view it as an attack from enemies.

These misconceptions have cost countless lives. Women who are told by doctors that CS is necessary often run to mission houses or traditional “Iya Agbebi” birth attendants in search of “miracle deliveries.” Sadly, many do not survive the gamble, leaving their families devastated.

The Medical Truth About CS

The reality is simple: CS is a medical intervention designed to save lives. Around the world, millions of mothers and babies are alive today because of timely Caesarean Sections. In cases of prolonged labour, obstructed delivery, fetal distress, or high-risk pregnancies, CS is often the only safe option.

Rejecting it out of fear or superstition is equivalent to gambling with two lives. No amount of prayers can replace medical science when complications set in. God Himself gave wisdom to doctors, and refusing life-saving care under the banner of “faith” is a tragic misunderstanding.

Why the Stigma Persists

Part of the blame lies within the health system. In some hospitals, nurses and midwives fuel these myths by presenting CS as an unfortunate outcome during antenatal classes. Instead of educating women about its importance, they join in prayer lines that discourage it. This compromises professional ethics and deepens the ignorance that costs lives.

Cultural expectations also play a role. Many men pressure their wives to “deliver like true African women,” reinforcing the false belief that natural birth is the only honourable option. Such thinking is not only dangerous but also backward in today’s medical reality.

The Way Forward

Nigeria must urgently dismantle the stigma around Caesarean Section through coordinated public education and policy enforcement.
1. Health Worker Accountability: Nurses and midwives must be retrained to communicate responsibly. Hospital management should sanction any staff who mislead patients or turn antenatal care into spiritual crusades.
2. Stakeholders Campaigns: Nationwide enlightenment programmes are needed to teach families that CS is not a curse but a medical blessing. Community radio, TV jingles, and grassroots advocacy should be deployed.
3. Religious Leaders’ Role: Churches and mosques must use their platforms to promote safe delivery, not superstition. Preaching against CS is effectively preaching death.
4. Family Involvement: Husbands, mothers-in-law, and family members must be included in antenatal education. When families understand the necessity of CS, they can support women instead of discouraging them.

No Shame in Survival

There should be no shame in how a child is delivered, whether through natural birth or Caesarean Section. The only shame lies in losing lives to ignorance and stubborn myths. A mother who undergoes CS is no less strong, no less complete, and no less a mother. She is, in fact, a survivor who chose life for herself and her baby.

Nigeria must wake up to this truth. Every maternal death caused by CS myths is preventable. Ending this dangerous stigma is not just a health issue, it is a moral obligation.