EXTENT OF PROVISION AND UTILIZATION OF ANTENATAL, DELIVERY AND POSTNATAL CARE SERVICES AT THE FIRST TIER OF HEALTH CARE IN A NORTH CENTRAL STATE OF NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21272/eumj.2025;13(3):683-692Keywords:
maternal health, maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality, geographical zonesAbstract
Introduction: Maternal health is one of the components of primary health care services aimed at providing quality care to the mother and baby in the peripartum period through the prevention, detection and management of any potential complication of pregnancy and childbirth. The elements of Maternal Health services are antenatal care, delivery care and postnatal care services. With the high maternal mortality ratio of Nigeria standing at 814 per 100,000 live births, it became imperative to examine maternal health services provision and utilization at the Primary health care level in Benue state, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 360 women of childbearing age (15-49 years) and 72 health workers from 2 local government areas each of the 3 geographical zones of the state. Pretested and validated Questionnaire titled MHSPUBS was used for data collection. Respondents’ responses were graded on Likert 4 point scale, with Alpha mean score fixed at 2.50. Chi-square was used to test hypotheses, with null hypothesis rejected at p˂0.05.
Results: Findings indicate that there is a high extent of provision of antenatal care services (x̅ =2.51 ± 0.86) and postnatal care services (x̅ = 2.62 ± 0.92). On the other hand, extent of delivery care services was low at x̅ = 2.21 ± 0.96. Utilization of maternal health services at the primary health care level in Benue state was high extent (x̅ = 2.61 ± 0.93). There were significant differences in the provision and utilization of the components of maternal health services in the 3 geographical zones.
Conclusions: The provision and utilization of maternal health services (especially delivery care) at the primary health care level in Benue state fell short of the recommended standard by WHO which calls for quick intervention from the necessary stakeholders.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Magaret Ada Onuh, Sunday Adakole Ogli, Simon Inalegwu Ayegba
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