Intersectionality of Poverty and Health Education Access in Shaping Maternal Mortality Risk in North East Nigeria

Maternal mortality in North East Nigeria is concentrated among the most socioeconomically marginalised women, where poverty and limited health education access interact to compound risk at multiple levels. This study examined the intersectionality of poverty and health education access in shaping maternal mortality risk in North East Nigeria, drawing data from Taraba, Bauchi, and Gombe states. A qualitative phenomenological design was used, with 32 purposively selected bereaved family members, traditional birth attendants, community health workers, and women survivors of obstetric complications participating in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis guided by intersectionality theory was applied. Findings revealed that poverty restricted women's physical and financial access to formal healthcare, while inadequate health education left communities reliant on traditional birth practices with high inherent risk. Intersecting disadvantages including gender, poverty, rurality, and ethnicity created compounded vulnerability that no single intervention could adequately address. The study argues for transformative health education approaches that recognise and address the structural drivers of maternal mortality risk. Recommendations include community health education embedded in social protection programmes and advocacy for universal health coverage in North East Nigeria. Keywords: maternal mortality, poverty, health education access, intersectionality, North East Nigeria