title: Evaluating Religious Influences on the Utilization of Maternal Health Services among Muslim and Christian Women in North-Central Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uptake of antenatal services is low in Nigeria; however, indicators in the Christian-dominated South have been better than in the Muslim-dominated North. This study evaluated religious influences on utilization of general and HIV-related maternal health services among women in rural and periurban North-Central Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Targeted participants were HIV-positive, pregnant, or of reproductive age in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa. Themes explored were utilization of facility-based services, provider gender preferences, and Mentor Mother acceptability. Thematic and content approaches were applied to manual data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight (68) women were recruited, 72% Christian and 28% Muslim. There were no significant religious influences identified among barriers to maternal service uptake. All participants stated preference for facility-based services. Uptake limitations were mainly distance from clinic and socioeconomic dependence on male partners rather than religious restrictions. Neither Muslim nor Christian women had provider gender preferences; competence and positive attitude were more important. All women found Mentor Mothers highly acceptable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barriers to uptake of maternal health services appear to be minimally influenced by religion. ANC/PMTCT uptake interventions should target male partner buy-in and support, healthcare provider training to improve attitudes, and Mentor Mother program strengthening and impact assessment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Plot 252 Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja 900246, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mujtaba
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Llewellyn J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, PMB 3452, Kano 700231, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Hadiza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galadanci
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Plot 252 Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja 900246, Nigeria; Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Salome
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erekaha
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Okundaye
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Plot 252 Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja 900246, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olusegun A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Plot 252 Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja 900246, Nigeria; Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Baltimore, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Nadia A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sam-Agudu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors