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.