Journal of Public Health Policy and Society
Determinants of Adequate Antenatal Care Utilisation and its Association with Women’s Experiences of Maternal Health Services in Kwara State, Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Study
By Sarah Dikko Emmanuel, Adefunke Agbeke Emmanuel, Ufulul Katherine Emmanuel and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Adequate antenatal care (ANC) protects maternal and newborn health, yet many Nigerian women do not receive it. Beyond access, women’s experiences may influence completion of recommended visits. No state-wide estimate of adequate ANC or its link with women’s experiences exists for Kwara State.
Objective
To estimate adequate ANC prevalence, identify determinants, and assess association with women’s experiences of maternal health services in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Methods
A community-based, sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was conducted among women aged 15–49 with a live birth in the preceding two years. A multistage stratified cluster sample was drawn from six local government areas across three senatorial districts. Interviewer-administered questionnaires collected data. Adequate ANC was defined as ≥4 visits with all core components (blood pressure, urine test, blood test, ≥2 tetanus toxoid doses, ≥1 intermittent preventive malaria treatment). Experiences (respect, communication, waiting time, satisfaction) were scored 8–32. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used; 22 in-depth interviews and 10 key informant interviews were analysed thematically.