Assessment of maternal health services provision and utilization among rural women in Benue state, north central Nigeria

Maternal health is one of the components of primary health care (PHC) services aimed at providing quality reproductive health care to the mother and their babies, through prevention, detection and management of any potential complication of pregnancy and childbirth. Owing to the high Maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Nigeria, this study was designed to examine the extent of provision and utilization of MHS among rural women in Benue state, Nigeria. 360 women of childbearing age and 72 health workers from 2 Local government areas in each of the 3 geographical zones of the state were selected through multistage random sampling technique. Pretested and validated Questionnaire titled MHSPUBS was used for data collection and responses obtained were scored on Likert 4-point scale. Chi-square was used to test hypotheses, with null hypothesis rejected at p ˂ 0.05. Provision of antenatal care services (x̅ =2.51±0.86) and postnatal care services (x̅ =2.62±0.92) was high extent, while low extent delivery care service was low extent x̅ =2.21±0.96. There was high extent (x̅ =2.61±0.93) of perceived MHS utilization. Nevertheless, poor health worker attitude, lack of equipment, harmful cultural beliefs were some identified barriers to actual MHS utilization in the areas of study. There was significant difference in the provision and utilization of MHS across the geographical zones in the state, with Zone C having the lowest provision, and pattern of MHS Utilization was similar to MHS provision. There is therefore the urgent need for the Government and stakeholders to act urgently to bridge the gaps that existed in the provision and utilization of MHS in the state.