Determinants of non-utilization of health facilities for childbirth in Papua New Guinea: Evidence from the demographic and health survey

Over half of the women in this study did not utilize health facilities for childbirth. Demographic and health service-related factors influenced the non-utilization of facility-based childbirth, highlighting the need to scale up maternal health services. Increasing uptake of facility-based childbirth requires coordinated system-level efforts and incentive-based interventions that promote antenatal care and skilled birth attendance, especially for rural women. Male-inclusive strategies in maternal health decision-making are critical for improving women's access to and utilization of facility-based childbirth services.