Department of Sociology, Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria.
Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Soc Work Public Health. 2020 Jan 2;35(1-2):11-20. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2020.1726850. Epub 2020 Feb 13.
Poor maternal health outcomes are reported commonplace in Northern Nigeria in spite of a relatively efficient distribution of primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the grassroot. There is need to understand why such availability of PHCs is yet to translate into improved maternal health for the region in line with global health goals. Thus, this article investigates factors that affect utilization of PHCs by maternal-aged women in Niger-east senatorial zone in Niger State, Nigeria. Data were sourced from 48 respondents comprising pregnant women, nursing mothers and health workers. Data were analyzed thematically. From our findings, occurrences of maternal mortality abound in the study area as a result of the disparity between availability and utilization of maternal health services offered by PHCs in the location. Influential factors include culture, support networks, policy and equipment gaps, economic challenges, and attitude of health workers. We recommend the engagement of social workers to galvanize a blend of upstream, midstream and downstream public health interventions in order to address these influential factors and achieve positive maternal health outcomes for Nigeria in future.
尽管尼日利亚北部基层的初级保健中心 (PHC) 分布相对高效，但仍有报道称那里的产妇健康结果不佳。需要了解为什么如此多的 PHC 仍然没有转化为改善该地区的产妇健康，以符合全球卫生目标。因此，本文调查了影响尼日利亚尼日尔州尼日尔东参议员区产妇年龄妇女使用 PHC 的因素。数据来自 48 名受访者，包括孕妇、哺乳期妇女和卫生工作者。数据进行了主题分析。从我们的调查结果来看，由于该地区 PHC 提供的孕产妇保健服务的可及性和利用率之间存在差距，该研究区域的孕产妇死亡率很高。影响因素包括文化、支持网络、政策和设备差距、经济挑战以及卫生工作者的态度。我们建议聘请社会工作者，以激励上游、中游和下游公共卫生干预措施的融合，以解决这些影响因素，并为尼日利亚未来实现积极的产妇健康结果。
