Abstract
BackgroundIn Côte d’Ivoire, maternal health service utilization indicators remain low despite improvements in health coverage and the availability of free health care for pregnant women. The objective of the study was to identify the determinants associated with the use of maternal health services in the department of Bloléquin, in western Côte d’Ivoire.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study with an analytical focus. The study sample size was 400 women. Study participants were selected through a two-stage cluster survey. The data were collected using a standardized questionnaire whose items concerned socio-demographic data, the different uses of maternal health services, namely childbirth assisted by a health professional, use of family planning, prenatal consultation and postnatal consultation. Logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with the use of maternal health services. The significance of the statistical tests was set at 5%. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and interpreted.ResultsThe results showed that women made less use of family planning services (OR = 0.4), prenatal consultation (OR = 0.2) and assisted childbirth (OR = 0.2) when they provided the funding for care themselves. Women with monthly incomes above $26.8 used family planning services 4 times more than those with lower incomes. Married women used prenatal consultations 3 times more often than unmarried women (CI95% = 1.4–7.3). Desiring pregnancy increased the use of post-natal consultations by 3 times (CI95% = 1.5–6.1).ConclusionImproving the use of maternal health services in western Côte d’Ivoire requires taking into account women’s socio-cultural and economic challenges. In initiatives related to the financial empowerment of women, efforts must be made at the level of emotional considerations related to pregnancy.
Highlights
In Côte d’Ivoire, maternal health service utilization indicators remain low despite improvements in health coverage and the availability of free health care for pregnant women
The objective of the study was to identify the determinants associated with the use of maternal health services in the department of Blolequin, in western Côte d’Ivoire
The results of this study showed a positive association between the use of maternal health services, the marital status of women and the source of funding for care
Summary
In Côte d’Ivoire, maternal health service utilization indicators remain low despite improvements in health coverage and the availability of free health care for pregnant women. The number of maternal deaths decreased from 532,000 to 303,000 between 1990 and 2015 worldwide, maternal mortality remains the highest in sub-Saharan Africa with a rate of 546 deaths per 100,000 live births [1] To reduce this rate, most states in Africa have introduced an exemption from the cost of care for pregnant women [2]. A good knowledge of these determinants will certainly make it possible to better address the issue of the use of maternal health services This is why it seemed wise to understand the social, cultural and economic logic of the use of maternal care of people living in this part of Côte d’Ivoire.
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