Women\'s Perception Of Maternal And Child Health Care Services (MCH)

Abstract

The study examined women\'s perception of maternal and child health care services (MCH). Data for the stud was collected with the aid of interview and focus group discussions. A total of 150 women obtaining MCH service from FMC Owerri were interviewed. Findings revealed that health personnel have some unhealthy attitude towards maternal health services which include the fact that health personnel give more attention to those individuals with high socio-economic status attracts, delay in rendering medical services, doctors carefree attitude to work and nurses have negative attitude towards women. This is not a very good impression moreso most of them are also women. Also it was found that the most common health education topics taught women include general hygiene, signs of labour and when to come to hospital, nutrition, abnormalities in pregnancy, family planning, exercise in pregnancy. Child welfare services carried out include Measurement of child\'s weight/immunization, Advice on the feeding pattern of the child, and Routine check up of the health of children/babies. The study also found that use of condoms, safe period/rhythm methods, oral pills, intra uterine device, and administration of contraceptives where the most common family planning methods taught to respondents.

Keywords: child health care, women

Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 12 (2) 2007: pp. 19-24