Utilisation of antenatal care services as determinants of satisfaction and its challenges in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the growing interest and efforts by government to popularise antenatal care services in Nigeria as recommended by the World Health Organization, high levels of infant and maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge facing the country. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth cause more deaths and disabilities than any other reproductive health problems in African countries, including Nigeria. Antenatal care presents an opportunity for recognition and appropriate intervention for some of the causes of maternal mortality in developing countries. The study investigates the level of utilisation of antenatal care services as determinants of satisfaction and its challenges among pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to determine the sample size of 1 500 pregnant women. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients for the tools ranged from 0.94–0.97. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (correlation, simple and multiple regression) statistics. The results showed that utilisation of antenatal care services had a significant influence on pregnant women's satisfaction with the services. Long waiting hours in the clinic, income/financial constraints, high cost of services and distance to health centres are the major challenges faced by pregnant women in Lagos.