Demographic profile of mothers and their utilisation of maternal health-care services in Osun State, Nigeria.

Background: The provision of prenatal care and the promotion of institutional childbirth have the potential to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite this, high maternal and infant mortality is still being recorded in the developing countries and researchers still report low utilisation of maternal health care services in different communities in Nigeria.

Objective: This study examined the current level of utilisation of maternal health care in some rural and peri-urban communities of Olorunda Local Government Areas of Osun State in South Western Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. Researchers conducted a house-to-house survey using a semi-structured questionnaire to interview adult women who are either pregnant or already had a child before. Information was collected on demographic characteristics and utilisation of maternal health care services.

Results: Most of the respondents (94.8%) delivered in health care facilities with the supervision of trained health personnel. The study showed a strong influence of mother's education and economic status of the family respectively (p<0.05) on the use of maternal health care services.

Conclusion: This study revealed a higher level of utilisation of maternal health care services in the communities under study than earlier reported in Southwestern Nigeria. Continuous and sustained community education and mobilisation is essential so that women and their families learn about the need for special care during pregnancy and childbirth under trained health personnel.