A Critical Review of Factors Affecting Health-Seeking Behavior Among Adolescent Mothers in Nigeria: Towards Inclusive and Targeted Interventions

Background: Adolescent motherhood poses significant public health challenges, marked by adverse maternal health outcomes. Adolescent mothers face a higher risk of pregnancy complications and death than their older counterparts, yet they exhibit improper health-seeking behavior in the uptake of maternal health services (MHS). Understanding the factors affecting health-seeking behavior in the uptake of MHS among adolescent mothers remains limited and inadequately understood. This study aims to identify those factors affecting health-seeking behavior in the uptake of maternal health services among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. Methodology: This study employed a literature review approach, drawing from databases such as Elsevier, PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar, utilizing the socioecological model as an analytical framework to comprehensively explore the factors affecting health-seeking behaviour in the uptake of maternal health services among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. The geographical focus extends to West African countries with similar contexts. Findings: The findings reveal multilevel factors contributing to flawed health-seeking behavior and low MHS utilization among adolescent mothers, encompassing education disparities, poverty, limited autonomy, weak support systems, stigmatization, judgmental healthcare attitudes, and accessibility barriers. Conclusion and Health implications: The study underscores the imperative of integrating adolescent-friendly MHS within Nigeria's maternal health framework to address specific needs and calls for tailored policies and interventions targeting adolescent mothers, particularly in underserved areas, to bridge existing disparities in maternal health service access and further enhance health outcomes.