Project Materials

PREGNANCY DURATION AND CHOICE OF ANTENATAL AND DELIVERY CARE

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy duration and maternal health care options are critical primary health issues that the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to address in its drive for comprehensive healthcare delivery to mother and child. To be sure, there is agreement on the importance of providing optimal care for the mother and baby; this is thought to improve the mother and child’s social and biological development, as well as reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, which are common in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries. The study thus explores the problems that mothers encounter, which are often conflicting with their socioeconomic ambitions, growth, and maternal well-being. Other goals include identifying the factors that influence pregnant healthcare use, such as culture, income, and occupation. Methodologically, a sample of 152 pregnant and nursing mothers aged 15 to 49 years were chosen for interviews through purposeful random sampling in Ijebu-Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria, involving both urban (i.e. informal and informal sectors) and rural societies. Data collecting methods included surveys and in-depth (IDI) interviews. Ten in-depth interviews with mothers, fathers, healthcare providers, and opinion leaders were done. The data were analysed using a simple statistical method and content analysis for IDI. Data demonstrated a robust, but inverse, association between socio-cultural characteristics and health care choice, as well as an incongruous relationship between pregnant and nursing mothers’ residency and healthcare usage. The findings revealed that, among other factors, patriarchal culture, money, occupation, and where one lives all played a role in determining whether to seek care and which healthcare facility to use. The anthropological findings also indicated that men have an important role in their wives’ choice of treatment during pregnancy, as the majority of them still pay the medical bills. It is therefore suggested that the government, international agencies, and concerned nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) intensify their efforts to open up rural and mixed urban settlements to Human Development Amenities (HDA) and implement a strong intervention to ensure adequate maternal healthcare delivery.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study.

Antenatal care is the care provided to a pregnant woman from the time conception is confirmed to the start of labour. This is also considered as an essential point of interaction between health workers and women, as well as a time to provide health education, such as how to detect pregnancy issues and create a birth plan to assure delivery at a health institution.

The goal of prenatal care is to monitor and promote the health of both the mother and the foetus; thus, the benefits of antenatal care cannot be overstated. Antenatal care is an essential metric for lowering mother morbidity.

Furthermore, prenatal care is a sort of preventive healthcare that aims to provide frequent exams that allow doctors and midwives to treat and prevent potential health concerns during the pregnancy, as well as promote healthy lifestyles that benefit both mother and child.