Differentials in Utilizations of Antenatal Care Services among Currently Married Women in Urban Southwest and Northwest of Nigeria
Abstract
The study examines differentials in utilization of antenatal care services among currently married women in urban Southwest and Northwest of Nigeria. Attempt was made to investigate differentials in utilization of antenatal care services among currently married women in both regions. In-depth interviews currently married women in urban Southwest and Northwest. Secondary data were extracted from 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) dataset. Out of the 33,385 currently married interviewed, the study employed sample of 14,811 comprising 8,202 for Northwest and 6,789 for Southwest. The analyses were done in three stages of univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. The result showed evidence of higher age of respondents, higher education among currently married in southwest than northwest. The number of children ever born (CEB) among currently married in both regions were four and five respectively. For both regions antenatal care utilization increased with wealth index. The result of the multivariable analysis regarding utilization of antenatal care services, the logistic analysis shows factors such as education, religion and wealth index as the variables influencing utilization of antenatal care service in Northwest while age of respondents, occupation and CEB determined utilization of antenatal care services in Southwest than Northwest. The study concluded that currently married women in Southwest and Northwest showed differentials in utilization of antenatal care services. Currently married women in Southwest exhibiting higher utilization of antenatal care services and lower utilization in Northwest. Religion, education, wealth index, women autonomy, children ever born, distance to health and cost of antenatal care were the most important variables explaining the differentials in utilization of antenatal care services among currently married women in urban Southwest and Northwest in Nigeria.
