The impact of strengthened ward development committees on utilisation of reproductive maternal and child health services in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The WDC strengthening intervention led to significant improvements in maternal health service utilisation, family planning uptake, and postnatal care attendance. Socio-demographic factors such as age and marital status were important determinants of family planning uptake, with older and single women more likely to use these services. However, declines in caregivers' knowledge of child health interventions and the acceptability of key health interventions, particularly vaccines, highlight the need for targeted health education and communication strategies. Getting communities more involved and using effective ways to share health information are recommended to maintain and improve health outcomes in similar settings.