FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE UTILIZATION OF MATERNAL HEALTH CARE CENTERS, A CASE STUDY OF JABI VILLAGE FCT ABUJA

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE UTILIZATION OF MATERNAL HEALTH CARE CENTERS, A CASE STUDY OF JABI VILLAGE FCT ABUJA

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Background Of The Study

In the child of bringing new life into the world, childbearing is one of the perilous activities that women participate in. It is often accompanied with complications that may result in morbidity, disability, and death. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than half a million women die annually as a result of reproduction, with 99 percent of these fatalities occurring in underdeveloped nations. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than fifty percent of the overall death toll in developing nations, and the lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy is exceptionally high; for every 26 moms, one mother dies as a consequence of pregnancy and childbirth in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is around 281 times more than the maternal mortality rate in more industrialized nations, when one mother every 7300 moms perishes (WHO, 2007).

In addition to the danger of death during pregnancy and childbirth, many more women suffer from short- and long-term impairments and diseases. According to the World Health Organization (2001), for every maternal mortality, 30 to 50 percent of women experience pregnancy-related health issues such as vesico vaginal fistulae, infertility, and depression, which may be chronically disabling.

More than 70% of maternal fatalities worldwide are attributable to five primary complications (which are direct obstetric problems): hemorrhage (25%), infection (15%), complication of unsafe abortion (13%), hypertension (12%), and obstructed labor (8 percent). This issue may arise at any moment throughout pregnancy and childbirth, sometimes without warning, and frequently need quick access to emergency obstetric care for treatment (Wagstaff and M. Claeson, 2004). The World Bank believes that 74 percent of maternal fatalities might be prevented if all women had access to treatments that treat pregnancy and childbirth problems, particularly emergency obstetric care (Wagstaff and M. Claeson, 2004). Similarly, research on maternal morbidity and mortality in underdeveloped nations have consistently emphasized the importance of prenatal care and the availability of trained people to assist women during labor and delivery (Mcokay, 2009). ANC allows for the provision of information to pregnant women, the treatment of existing social and medical disorders, and screening for risk factors. ANC alone is insufficient, since the majority of fatal problems arise after or immediately after birth. Therefore, it is essential that pregnant women have expert obstetric care throughout delivery. However, adoption of these services is limited in the majority of developing nations, such as Nigeria, owing to cultural, socioeconomic, and demographic issues [Addai, 2017]. In developed countries, an estimated 97 percent of pregnant women get antenatal care and 99 percent use skilled obstetric care during delivery, but in developing countries, only 65 percent and 53 percent of women use antenatal care and skilled obstetric care, respectively [Addai, 2017].

Nigeria is one of the Sub-Saharan African nations with the worst rates of maternal mortality in the world. More than 400,000 women are permanently disabled as a result of difficulties during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum. The rate at which Nigerian women use ANC, delivery, and postnatal care is one of the lowest in the world. In Nigeria, almost all births occur at home, whereas few take place in a hospital or other health facility. The majority of deliveries are helped by family members or other unskilled individuals. Prenatal care attendance is very low; just 28% of all Nigerian moms got prenatal care from a qualified health practitioner. Variables exist in the quality and frequency of this treatment; many women get it either too late or too seldom throughout their pregnancy (Iyaniwura and Yussuf, 2014). The majority of maternal mortalities and impairments in the nation are attributable to direct obstetric problems, which are preventable if women have timely and appropriate access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. In view of the aforementioned, the purpose of this research is to identify the factors that impact the usage of maternal health care facilities.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

The pregnancy "maternal health" refers to the health of physical and mental well-being of women before, during, and immediately after childbirth. It is essential for the mother's survival as well as the well-being of the baby that she have access to, and that she make use of, high-quality health care throughout pregnancy, at the time of birth, and during the post-natal period (Iyaniwura and Yussuf, 2014). Despite the fact that pregnancy is a natural physiological process, childbearing continues to be one of the riskiest activities that a woman can partake in (Filippi, 2010). Furthermore, for many women living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), childbearing is frequently associated with suffering, poor health, and both child and maternal mortality. 4. The provision of maternal health care services such as antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth assistance (SBA) in an equitable manner such that these services are available in the entire health system is essential to the success of reducing maternal deaths. This is due to the important role that these services play in ensuring safe motherhood and the overall well-being of families and communities (Engmann, C.M, & Devries, 2013)

In rural areas of Nigeria, several obstacles to the utilization of MHS have been identified. These obstacles include: inadequate road networks, difficult terrains, a lack of support from the family, community, or health professionals, reliance on other people for decision-making, cost, cultural concerns such as continued use of traditional health providers and beliefs, and long distances to life-saving healthcare facilities (Ndep, & Ches, 2014). Severe bleeding, sepsis, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and obstructed labor and delivery are the five leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria at the age of 16. Even though the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been very successful in lowering the number of maternal deaths, post-MDGs evaluation shows that progress is still uneven across and within countries. This is because the underutilization of essential maternal health services continues to be disproportionate between the prosperous and the marginalized communities (Wagstaff and Claeson, 2004) Because of these worries over the environment, including it in the current objectives for sustainable development was necessary. The purpose of this study, which is based on the information presented above, is to determine the factors that influence the utilization of maternal health care centers in Abuja, Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The general focus of this study is the factors that influences the utilization of maternal health care centers in Abuja, Nigeria. However, the specific objectives which falls inline with the overall aim of this research are outlined below;

1. Determine whether women’s age and literacy influences the utilization of maternal health care centers.
2. Determine whether poor road networks, and challenging terrains influences the utilization of maternal health care centers.
3. Determine whether lack of husbands support, and cost influences the utilization of maternal health care centers.
4. Determine whether lack of community or health professionals, and unfriendly attitude of healthcare workers influences the utilization of maternal health care centers.
5. Determine whether inadequacy of health facilities, and cultural concerns influences the utilization of maternal health care centers.

1.4 Research Question

The study will be guided by the following  questions;

1. Does women’s age and literacy influences their utilization of maternal health care centers?
2. Does poor road networks, and challenging terrains influences the utilization of maternal health care centers?
3. Does lack of husbands support, and cost influences the utilization of maternal health care centers?
4. Does lack of community or health professionals, and unfriendly attitude of healthcare workers influences the utilization of maternal health care centers?
5. Does inadequacy of health facilities, and cultural concerns influences the utilization of maternal health care centers?

1.5 Significance of the study

The findings of this study may have both theoretical and practical implications for the future of suitability of maternal healthcare centers. Theoretically, the study may contribute to the advancement of knowledge about factors influencing the utilization of maternal health centers in Abuja. The study will also have practical significance in that, it will assist in determining the level of utilization of MHS at birth. The findings will be of immediate benefit to the Ministry of Health in the formulation of future public health policies aimed at integrating MHS in the health system as agents of change to enhance places of delivery. Similarly, results of this study may enlighten the public especially mothers and spouses on the importance of considering a suitable and safe place of delivery. In addition, this can lead to appropriate interventions by non-governmental organizations and other key stakeholders that have established or intend to establish reproductive health programs. The study may also forms a base on which others can develop their studies based on the gaps identified.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is structured to generally identify the factors that influences the utilization of maternal health care centers in Abuja, Nigeria. The respondents for this study will be obtained from mothers and pregnant women in Jabi Village FCT Abuja.

1.7 Limitation Of The Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. However, the researcher were able to manage these just to ensure the success of this study.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Women: This refers to all females of reproductive age that is, 15 years to 49 years of age.

Choice of place of delivery: This is the preferred option by the women who are giving birth; it could either be home, health facility or assisted by traditional birth attendant.

Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It encompasses the health care dimensions of family planning, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care in order to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience, in most cases, and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, in other cases.

Maternal health care services include an extensive scope of health services mothers are given before pregnancy, during pregnancy, delivery and post-natal. Maternal health care services, therefore, comprise pre-natal care, childbirth and postnatal care.

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