Utilization of antenatal care and delivery services in Sagamu, south western Nigeria.

A survey of 392 women who had carried at least one pregnancy to term in Sagamu, South-Western Nigeria was conducted to determine the pattern of use of maternity services and assess factors that may influence the observed pattern. Majority of the women received antenatal care (84.6%) during their last pregnancy. Four-fifth of those who received ANC first attended the clinic during the second trimester (79.6%). The places of delivery were government facilities (54.8%), private hospital (24.5%), traditional birth attendants (13.5%) and spiritual healing homes (5.6%). Higher educational status and higher level of income positively affected the pattern of use of these services (p<0.05). Perceived quality of service was the most important factor which influenced the choice of facility for obstetric care. A considerable proportion of those who used traditional birth attendants (36.1%) used it to please their husbands. Our findings suggest that improving the socioeconomic status of men and women in the community is a key factor to improving utilization of maternity care services.