Influence of women’s empowerment indices on the utilization of skilled maternity care : evidence from rural Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the association between indices of women’s empowerment and utilization of skilled antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal maternity care in two rural Local Government Areas in Edo State, Nigeria. Findings indicate that female education is a strong predisposing factor for utilization of maternal health services in the study area. Survey respondents’ education and participation in payment for their own health care positively predicted use of all three levels of skilled maternal care. Women who made decisions alone about major household purchases were twice as likely to use all three levels of services than when decisions were made by their partners or others.

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Keywords

WOMEN’S HEALTH, RURAL WOMEN, EDUCATION, WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, DECISION MAKING, PREGNANCY, MATERNAL HEALTH, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, NIGERIA, SOUTH OF SAHARA

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