Year: 2026 | Month: January | Volume: 16 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 41-58
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260106
Determinants of Maternal Healthcare Utilization in Nigeria using the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey
Kinikanwo Innocent Green1, Anthony Ike Wegbom1*, Fortune Somiari Amah-Tariah2, Oluchi Mildred Ndudim1
1Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University,
Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2Department of Human Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University,
Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Anthony Ike Wegbom
ABSTRACT
Background: Maternal healthcare utilization in Nigeria remains suboptimal, contributing to high maternal and neonatal mortality. Understanding both the level of service uptake and socio-demographic determinants is essential for designing targeted interventions. This study aimed to assess the level of maternal healthcare utilization and associated factors among Nigerian women.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) dataset, comprising women aged 15–49 years who had a live birth within five years preceding the survey. Maternal healthcare utilization was measured using three indicators: antenatal care with four or more visits (ANC4+), facility-based delivery (FBD), and postnatal care within two days of delivery (PNC). Descriptive statistics estimated coverage levels with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), while unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression identified socio-demographic predictors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Result: Among women in Nigeria, 58.5% had four or more antenatal care visits, 41.1% delivered in health facilities, and 84.0% received postnatal care within two days of delivery. ANC utilization increased with maternal age up to 34 years and with higher education, with 92.53% of women with higher education attending four or more visits. FBD was highest among women with higher education (87.71%), urban residents (72.70%), and wealthier households (69.67%). PNC within 2 days was highest among insured women (90.93%), highly educated women (90.24%), and residents of Southwest Nigeria (90.55%). Rural residence, low education, poverty, high parity, and lack of autonomy were consistently associated with lower service utilization.
Conclusion: Maternal healthcare utilization in Nigeria is influenced by socio-demographic, economic, and regional factors. Interventions targeting education, poverty reduction, women’s autonomy, and regional inequalities are essential to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. The 2018 NDHS highlights moderate levels of ANC and PNC utilization but low uptake of facility-based delivery in Nigeria
Key words: Maternal Healthcare, Ante-Natal Care, Facility-Based Delivery, Post-Natal Care, Nigeria.