Socio-Economic Status of Women and Maternal Health Services Utilization in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

This study examines the socio-economic status of women and maternal health services utilization in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The study was however limited to women of childbearing age (15-49 years) resident within Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. In the course of this work, primary and secondary sources of data were used.

A binary logistic regression was used in order to achieve the purpose of the study. Maternal health services were accurately described according to the rural and urban locations where they naturally take place. It was therefore found suitable for the present study. The study shows that women’s socio-economic status was significantly related to maternal healthcare services utilization. Education, occupation and income were the major parameters that were used to determine the level of women socio-economic status. The study found that a large proportion of women who had secondary education or higher level of education utilized maternal healthcare services. The study also found that occupation was also very significant in the utilization of maternal healthcare services and that majority of the respondents who utilized maternal healthcare services had a stable source of income.

It was therefore recommended that the Ministry of Health should make deliberate policies that will involve women aged 28 years and above as role models to sensitize other women on the importance of making the required number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits. Non-Governmental Organizations need to come up with clear policies and lay out educational programs to empower women on importance of Antenatal Care (ANC) utilization, presence of a skilled birth attendant during delivery and postnatal care usage since a mother’s level of education, occupational status and level of income predict utilization of maternal healthcare services. Lastly, women should be encouraged to acquire productive skills and be empowered to set up businesses in order to boost their income earning power. The Government and Education Institutions need to carry out further research as it is important to focus on other determinants of maternal health care utilization not considered in this study. Understanding the multiplicity of factors which can influence maternal healthcare utilization is key in the development of interventions that will work in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.