‘Beyond our pregnancies and bodies’: benefits and barriers to antenatal care clinic utilisation among pregnant women in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria

This study explored the benefits and barriers to antenatal care (ANC) utilization in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria, using case study and fieldwork research designs. Data collection involved qualitative methods from both primary and secondary sources. Through snowball and purposive sampling, 21 participants were recruited for key informant interviews (KIIs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Secondary data sources included books, journal articles, theses, and archival materials from the National Archives in Ibadan. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis, and descriptive narrative was employed for data interpretation. The study revealed that antenatal clinics have evolved beyond maternal and pregnancy care, becoming centers for social, economic, and political interactions. However, barriers such as high healthcare costs, distance, certain beliefs, and the COVID-19 outbreak hindered ANC utilization among many women in Abeokuta. To address these barriers, the study recommended a multifaceted approach involving collaboration with all stakeholders, including traditional birth attendants, strong government political will, and efforts to tackle poverty and illiteracy.