title: Determinants of antenatal care, institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilization in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Utilization of antenatal care, institutional delivery and postnatal care services in Nigeria are poor even by african average.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the 2013 Nigeria DHS to determine factors associated with utilization of these health MCH indicators by employing both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 54% of women had at least four ANC visits, 37% delivered in health facility and 29% of new born had postnatal care within two of births. Factors that consistently predict the utilization of the three MCH services are maternal and husband's level education, place of residence, wealth level and parity. Antenatal care strongly predicts both health facility delivery (OR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.99-2.34) and postnatal care utilization (OR = 4.67, 95%CI: 3.95-5.54); while health facility delivery equally predicting postnatal care (OR = 2.84, 95%CI: 2.20-2.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving utilization of these three MCH indicators will require targeting women in the rural areas and those with low level of education as well as creating demand for health facility delivery. Improving ANC use by making it available and accessible will have a multiplier effect of improving facility delivery which will lead to improved postnatal care utilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tukur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dahiru
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oche Mansur
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Oche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 2013; ANC; DHS; Nigeria; institutional delivery; postnatal