Correlation of Maternal Health and the Utilization of Health Facilities in Udo Community, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the nature and impact of healthcare facilities in Udo community. It specifically explores the rate of maternal mortality in the context of utilization of healthcare facilities and services in the study area. It adopted the cross-sectional survey design and research instruments were the semi-structured questionnaire and the in-depth interview guide. A total of three hundred and fifteen (315) questionnaires were administered to women who were 18 years and above. In order to have a representative sample, fifteen villages out of the twenty-six villages that make-up Udo community were randomly selected, but the stratified random sampling method was used to select the participants for the questionnaire and twenty-nine key informants for the in-depth interview who were purposively selected. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS into their constituent aggregates, tested with chi square and variables cross-tabulated. The findings show that there are a lot of impediments militating against women optimal access and utilization of the healthcare facilities in Udo community. Based on the findings, recommendations were made on the feasible ways to reduce the cost of care and improve the access and utilization of healthcare and by implication, the quality of maternal/women healthcare for the poor rural dwellers in the study area.