Access to reproductive health services among childbearing women in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to show the relationship between women education, affordability of hospital delivery, availability of government health center and the use of reproductive health services among childbearing women in Akute Community of Ogun State, Nigeria. The article begins with a background of the importance of reproductive health and its developmental consequences in both the developed and the developing country. This article also examined the challenges of women accessing reproductive health services in Nigeria. The reproductive health services considered for this study are hospital delivery, antenatal health care, skilled birth attendance, and use of contraceptives This study used survey and non-survey methods of data collections. This study was purposively carried out in Akute community of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria which has only one government primary health center and no research on reproductive health has ever been conducted in the area. Some of the key findings are: there is a significant relationship between the affordability of hospital delivery and hospital delivery with the p-value at 0.000. Also, that there is a significant relationship between female education and skilled birth attendant during last delivery among childbearing women in Akute community. Recommendations proffered include; the need for the Improvement of the health care delivery services and basic awareness of its access in Akute community vis-à-vis enhancing the standard of education with particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health education.

Keywords: Reproductive health services, access to education, antenatal care, hospital