Determinants of Maternal Utilization of Health Services and Nutritional Status in a Rural Community in South-West Nigeria.

Poor Maternal Health (MH) remains an issue of public health concern in Nigeria. This study identified the determinants of maternal utilization of health services and nutritional status in a rural community in south-west Nigeria. It was a cross-sectional house-hold survey of women aged 15-49 years. Data were analysed using Chi-square, logistic regression and generalized linear models (α=.05). Respondents' mean age was 29.9±7.8 years and about 9.0% were underweight, 76.7% attended ≥4 ANC visits and 65.7% were provided with ANC by skilled health workers. Sixty-two percent delivered in modern health facility, 67.5% were assisted by skilled health worker and 29.1% sought post-natal care within the first 3 days after delivery. The likelihood of delivery in health facility was 1.48(C.I=1.10-1.99, p<0.05) higher among women in monogamous than those in polygamy family. The estimated maternal mortality ratio was 448 deaths/100,000 live-births. The findings emphasize the need to scale-up MH improvement strategies in the study area.