Project Materials

DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICES

ABSTRACT

The study’s goal was to look into the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics that influence Maternal Health Service utilisation in selected rural areas in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study had three aims and investigated two hypotheses. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was utilised. The study population consisted of 5090 women of reproductive age (15-49 years), from whom a sample size of 370 women was drawn. Data was collected using a pretested researcher-developed questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and mean) and a chi-square test of association at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that 251 (71%) of the respondents were between the ages of 21 and 35 years, 196 (55.6%) had completed secondary education, and 127 (35.9%) had only one child. Significant amounts 116 (32.8%) were traders, 54 (15.3%) were students, 42 (11.9%) were civil servants, and only 36 (10.2%) were unemployed. Among those working, 128 (36.2%) and 102 (28.8%) had monthly per capita incomes of N10,000 and N20,000, respectively. A little less than half (45.5%) of the respondents’ husbands received secondary school, and 117 (33.1%) were traders. The use of maternal health services revealed that 310 (87.5%) registered for antenatal care in hospitals, 127 (35.9%) registered during the first trimester, 184 (51.4%) registered during the second trimester, and 286 (80.8%) visited at least four times. According to the venue of delivery, 263 (74.3%) gave birth in hospitals, whereas 91 (25.7%) gave birth in traditional birth attendants’ homes. According to levels of usage, 134 (37.9%) made the best use, 132 (37.3%) made good use, and 36 (10.2%) used maternal health services inefficiently. There was a significant connection (P < 0.05) between age, education, and utilisation of maternal health services. There was no significant correlation (P < 0.05) between parity, socioeconomic position, and utilisation of maternal health services. It was established that use was high, despite the fact that very few registered during the first trimester and a significant proportion delivered at traditional birth attendants’ homes. It is proposed that media be used to distribute consistent messages supporting early registration (first trimester) for antenatal care and health institution delivery in order to encourage community debate of the issue.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Every minute, a woman dies in the world as a result of pregnancy and childbirth problems. According to the same authors, almost half a million women die each year from maternal causes, with developing nations accounting for 99% of these deaths.

Pregnant mothers in underdeveloped nations face short or long-term life-threatening disorders associated to pregnancy and childbirth, including maternal death (Asghar, Ashfag, Naimatullah, Igbal, Tanvir and Samina, 2009; Nitai, Ataharul, Rafiqul, Wasimul, and Halida, 2003).

These include haemorrhage, eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), and vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), among others. Maternal health refers to women’s health during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (WHO, 2011).

It include ensuring the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period (National Reproductive Health Policy and Framework, 2005–2008).

Maternal health simply refers to women’s overall health and well-being from pregnancy until birth and for six weeks following childbirth.

Many international conferences have been convened to address the need to enhance maternal health, detect and manage life-threatening problems.

They include the Safe Motherhood Initiative, held in Nairobi in 1987, and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994.