The Use of Socio-economic and Accessibility Information for Improving MCH/FP Services--The Nigerian Case

Abstract

A survey of 247 female respondents (15 to 45 years of age) ik the IKot Omin Development Area show that women in the younger age groups (15 to 19 and 20 to 24) tend to be more educated have smaller family size lower mortality rate of child ever born and visit the health center more often than women in the older age groups. Age and education significantly accounted for the differences. Occupation was also a factor that accounted for the difference in average number of children ever born. Exposure to health center tends to be influenced by age education accessibility and home contact. The sample was divided into 3 strata by distance from the health center. Those who live closer to the clinic tend to make more visits than those who live far away. Also those living in the 1st 2 strata where home contacts are made by family health workers make more visits. Socioeconomic factors and accessibility to health facilities are vital factors which must be considered in planning for health education campaigns. Because the majority of the women are uneducated the vernacular should be used as the medium for education. Pictorial design may be more effective than written words. Home visits provide a more informal situation which may bridge the social distance between clinic and home. It may be necessary to open mobile clinics in distant villages to increase coverage. This survey shows that family health workers were able to double coverage through home visits over that achieved by community midwives. The training given to them at the start was cited as the main source of their motivation.