Assessment of utilization of maternal health care provisions in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Health services provisions are crucial aspects of everyone's well-being especially pregnant women who are most often, denied access to maternal health care provisions. Previous studies on maternal health care focused mainly on economic factors as the main reason for poor utilization of maternal health care provisions without looking at the availability of maternal health care facilities particularly in rural communities. This study therefore, examined the utilization of maternal health care provisions in Orumba North Local Government Area, in Anambra State Nigeria. Structural functionalism theory provided the framework. Survey design was employed. Simple random sampling technique was used to come up with an all-female sample of 384 respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and the utilization of modern maternal health care provisions data. Data generated from the field are analysed through the use of descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that respondents utilize modern maternal health care facilities in the area very often (82%), however the services rendered in the modern maternal health care were not satisfactory to respondents (84%. There is respondents' unwillingness to utilize modern maternal health care provisions (88%) and an above average respondents' willingness to patronize Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) more than the modern maternal health care facilities (52%). This study therefore, recommends equipping modern health care facilities with both human and material resources to enhance their performance. Also, periodic training of TBAs is recommended to enable them render good and hygienic services that will reduce maternal mortality rate among pregnant women.