SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC BARRIERS TO UTILIZATION OF MODERN MATERNAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES (MHCS) AMONG REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN UTILIZING THE SERVICES OF TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS (TBAS) IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines socio-demographic barriers to utilization of modern MHCS among 475 reproductive age rural and urban women utilising the services of TBAs for pregnancy-related care and childbirth in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling technique. The study examined place of antenatal and delivery care among the respondents in the study area; determined the association between socio-demographic barriers to utilization of modern MHCS and knowledge of modern MHCS among the respondents and establish the association between socio-demographic variables and utilization of modern MHCS among the study population. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed using SPSS (version 25) for descriptive and inferential statistics with level of significant set at <0.05. Findings showed that all respondents in the study utilize the services of the TBAs for ANC; however, some of the urban women (22.7%) and rural women (17.7%) utilize modern MHCS for delivery care. There is no statistical significant association between age at marriage and knowledge of modern MHCS for the urban women (p>0.05), while a statistical significant association exist between age at marriage and knowledge of modern MHCS for the rural women (p<0.05). Socio-demographic barriers to utilization of modern MHCS in the study includes belief in supernatural protection of pregnancy, husband decision, religion, education and income, p<0.05. However, no statistical significant association exist between (age of mothers, marital status and occupation) and utilization of modern MHCS for both categories of respondents (p>0.05). Strategies to encourage utilization of modern MHCS among the respondents in the study area should include adequate information on Modern MHCS, public enlightenment, and partners’/husbands’ involvement in maternal health planning.