title: Utilization of antenatal care and delivery services in Sagamu, south western Nigeria.
abstract: A survey of 392 women who had carried at least one pregnancy to term in Sagamu, South-Western Nigeria was conducted to determine the pattern of use of maternity services and assess factors that may influence the observed pattern. Majority of the women received antenatal care (84.6%) during their last pregnancy. Four-fifth of those who received ANC first attended the clinic during the second trimester (79.6%). The places of delivery were government facilities (54.8%), private hospital (24.5%), traditional birth attendants (13.5%) and spiritual healing homes (5.6%). Higher educational status and higher level of income positively affected the pattern of use of these services (p<0.05). Perceived quality of service was the most important factor which influenced the choice of facility for obstetric care. A considerable proportion of those who used traditional birth attendants (36.1%) used it to please their husbands. Our findings suggest that improving the socioeconomic status of men and women in the community is a key factor to improving utilization of maternity care services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. christywura@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Iyaniwura
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yussuf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult