ABSTRACT
Background: Nigeria continues to have one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world at 814 deaths per 100,000 live births despite several efforts. Various factors can influence appropriate utilization of services during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. This study examined the perceived factors that influence the utilization of maternal and child-health services among mothers in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The study population of 323 pregnant women was determined using the Power Analysis formula. The instrument used for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire. Demographic information of the women was also obtained for the study. The analysis was done with the software statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16.0. Study period was from April 2016 to August 2016.Results: There was high antenatal clinic attendance (93.1%) and utilization of postnatal care services (93.1%). Also, the major factors that influenced the utilization of maternal and child health services were professionally defined needs, accessibility of health care services and economic status.Conclusions: There was high utilization of maternal and child health care services which was influenced by some factors. There is a need for nurses and other health workers to be actively engaged in educating mothers during antenatal visits. Sustainable financial subsidies and community-based initiatives should be developed to encourage early antenatal clinic visits and to provide the necessary information on the importance of facility-based antenatal and postnatal care.
ABSTRACT
Background: Functional status of mothers after delivery has implications for maternal and child health (MCH). The study is aimed at determining the perceived level of return to functional status of mothers attending post partum clinic, after six weeks of childbirth at the teaching hospitals in Enugu. Information gathered would help in designing programmes for improved MCH.Methods: Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Data was collected using (IFSAC)-36 self rated items that was validated by experts in the field. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done and findings presented in graphs and tables.Results: Return of mothers to their functional abilities after six weeks of childbirth was good though in some aspects of functional ability it was low. 260 (73.9%) had a high level of return to infant care while 238 (67.68%), 218 (61.9%) and 159 (45.2%) had a low level of resumption to occupational, personal life, social and community activities respectively. There was a significant difference in the level of attainment of functional status of mothers attending past partum clinic with an F-value of 340.75<p value-0.05 There was no significant relationship observed between parity and return to functional status after 6 weeks of childbirth with 0.02 and 0.03 respectively (p>0.05).Conclusions: Majority of mothers attending post partum clinic returned to functional status after six weeks of childbirth. Awareness on the importance of post partum clinic attendance need to be intensified for improved MCH as maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rate is high in Nigeria.