Maternal Health Care Services Utilization among Teenage and Non-Teenage Mothers in Nigeria: A Secondary Data Analysis of 2007 National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey plus

Abstract

Aims: To compare the maternal health care services utilization among teenage mothers (TM) and non-teenage mothers (NTM) using the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS) Plus data. Study Design:  This was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of the 2007 National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS) Plus. Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory in 2007. Methodology: The sample size is 3,604 consisting of 240 TM aged 15-19 and 3,364 NTM aged 20-49 years. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors and predictors of maternal health services utilization respectively. The level of significance was at P<.05. Results: The mean age of the TM and NTM were 17.6 SD (1.2) years and 32 SD (7.9) years respectively. A significantly higher proportion of the NTM 63.8% vs 51.5% of the TM received antenatal care (ANC). Similarly, more NTM 42.7% utilized postnatal care (PNC) than the TM 21.9% (P<.05). Predictors of ANC among the TM were location (OR=3.52, 95%CI=1.22-10.21) and education (OR=0.24, 95%CI=0.08-0.73). Among the NTM, education (OR=0.57, 95%CI=0.43-0.75) and zone/region of residence predicted ANC utilization. Only education (OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.08-0.76) predicted the utilization of PNC among the TM. Meanwhile, PNC utilization was predicted by the NTM’s location, zone of residence, level of education, and TV-watching habits. Conclusion: Teenage mothers in this study poorly utilized maternal health care services. Though utilization of the available maternal health care services is generally low, teenage mothers have poorer levels of utilization of these services.