Spatial location and utilization of maternal healthcare services by women in Niger East Senatorial Zone

Abstract

Maternal healthcare remains a major challenge to the global public health system, especially in developing countries. Access to appropriate health care including skilled birth attendance at delivery and timely referrals to emergency obstetric care services can greatly reduce maternal deaths and disabilities, yet women in Niger East Senatorial continue to face limited access to skilled delivery services. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design using multi-stage sampling methods to achieve the required sample size of one thousand four hundred and forty-five (1,445) respondents. Questionnaires were administered to women of reproductive age (15-49 years), who are married. The respondents were selected from the sampled local government in Niger State. All the interviews were administered face-to-face ensuring 100% completion of the copies of the questionnaires. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was also used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that: socio-economic index, who takes decision on health matter and religion were determinants of access to maternal health service. Women in households with high socioeconomic index are more likely to access maternal health services than those in households with low socioeconomic index (p<.001). Furthermore, women in households where men monopolized decision making are less likely to access maternal health services than women where joint decision is taken (p<.001). The higher the level of education of a woman the greater her access to maternal health services in health facility (p<.001). Finally, the study showed that there is high prevalence of maternal mortality rate in the study area, poverty is identified as one of the major barriers to accessing maternal health services and high illiteracy level among women is responsible for inability to access maternal health services.

Keywords: Spatial location, Utilisation, Access, healthcare and women