Maternal Matters: Boosting Health Knowledge and Service Access in Zone C of Benue State, Nigeria

Improving women’s health through maternal healthcare services presents a significant challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria, leading to negative pregnancy outcomes for women of reproductive age. This study aimed to evaluate women’s awareness of maternal healthcare services and identify the key services available. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action, a cross-sectional survey was carried out with 400 women who had experienced at least one pregnancy. Participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique, and data were gathered via questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency distributions, means, and standard deviations, with Chi-square tests applied for inferential analysis using SPSS version 26.0. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. The majority of respondents, with average scores of 2.68, 2.79, and 2.38 on a three-point Likert scale, respectively, demonstrated awareness of maternal healthcare services, including prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, according to the results. The study advocates for enhanced educational efforts from the Nigerian Government, NGOs, community health workers, and religious leaders to promote maternal healthcare utilization. It also recommends the consistent availability of services across health facilities and the abolition of user fees for public maternal health services