PREGNANCY DURATION AND CHOICE OF ANTE-NATAL AND DELIVERY CARE

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy duration and maternal health care options are two critical primary health issues that the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes in its campaign for comprehensive healthcare for mother and child. To be sure, there is agreement on the importance of providing optimal care for the mother and baby; this is thought to improve the social development and biological growth of the mother and child, as well as reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, which are common in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries. As a result, the study looks into the challenges that mothers confront, which are sometimes incompatible with their socioeconomic goals, growth, and maternal well-being. Other goals include gaining a better knowledge of the factors that influence pregnant women’s healthcare use, such as culture, income, and occupation. In terms of methodology, a sample size of 152 respondents was chosen for interview using intentional random sampling among pregnant and nursing women aged 15 to 49 years in Ijebu-Oruba, south western Nigeria, involving mixed urban (i.e. informal and informal sectors) and rural cultures. The survey approach and in-depth (IDI) interviews were used to obtain data. We performed ten in-depth interviews with moms, fathers, health providers, and opinion leaders. For IDI, the data was evaluated using a simple statistical method and content analysis. The data demonstrated a strong, although inverted, association between socio-cultural characteristics and health-care decision, as well as an incongruent relationship. The findings revealed that patriarchal society, money, occupation, and where one lives all have a role in determining when one begins care and which healthcare center one chooses. Because the majority of men still pay the medical bill, the ethnographic results also indicated that men are the key to their wives’ choice of treatment during pregnancy. As a result, it is recommended that the government, international agencies, and concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) intensify their efforts to expand access to Human Development Amenities (HDA) in rural and mixed urban settlements, as well as to implement a strong intervention to ensure adequate maternal healthcare delivery.