Maternal Care Utilization in Primary Healthcare Centers in Nigerian Communities

Rolle R Ahuru

doi:10.1177/0272684X20983956

Maternal Care Utilization in Primary Healthcare Centers in Nigerian Communities

Int Q Community Health Educ. 2020 Dec 29:272684X20983956. doi: 10.1177/0272684X20983956. Online ahead of print.

Author

Rolle R Ahuru^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Economics, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Ughelli, Nigeria.
² Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
³ Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

PMID: 33375921
DOI: 10.1177/0272684X20983956

Abstract

This study investigated maternal care utilization in Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in four rural communities in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, Nigeria. The study is a cross-sectional household survey that used a structured questionnaire to elicit information from 398 women within the reproductive ages. The data were analyzed with descriptive and multivariate statistical methods. The data revealed that 67.1% of currently pregnant women utilized ANC in PHCs, 55.7% of women who reported recent birth delivered in PHCs and 30.9% delivered outside health institutions. The odds for delivery care utilization in PHCs were significantly lower for women who reported at least secondary education [aOR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.22 $-$ 1.16] and those on the highest income bracket N(15,000-99,000) [aOR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.00 $-$ 0.82]. Poor quality of care accounts for the highest proportion of the reasons why some women refrained from utilizing maternal care in PHCs despite proximity. Delta State government should put in place measures to upgrade PHCs in the rural part of the State.

Keywords: Nigeria; maternal care; primary healthcare centers; rural communities; utilization.