Impacts of Maternal Care Services on Reproductive Health of Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Centres in North-Eastern Nigeria (Published)
Maternal care services involves provision of health care to women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period at reproductive health care settings. The quality of maternal care services that women receive determine their reproductive health status in pregnancy, delivery and postpartum and impact on their overall wellbeing and that of the feotus. Maternal complications in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum that usually result to death of women and their feotus due to poor maternal care services are still persistent in North-Eastern Nigeria, Nigeria. Therefore, the study examined the impacts of maternal care services on reproductive health of pregnant women attending primary health care centres in North-Eastern Nigeria. An ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 2,487 registered pregnant women attending primary health care centres in North-Eastern Nigeria. A sample of 482 was selected through multistage sampling procedures. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection, the instrument was validated by three experts was used as instrument for the study. The reliability of the instrument was established with the use of split-half method and analyzed using Cronbach alpha statistics; a coefficient of 0.87 was obtained which shows the instrument is reliable. Inferential Statistics of Chi-square was used to analyze the data at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study show that maternal care services of medical check-up, physical test, health talk and immunization have significant impacts on reproductive health of pregnant women attending primary health care centres in North-Eastern Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that regular seminars and training should be organized by reproductive health care professionals for pregnant women in order to enlighten them on the benefits of maternal care services in order to improve their reproductive health status. Also, government should provide high quality immunization equipment and medications available and accessible in maternal care services centres as one strategy of prevention maternal complication during postpartum period and to improve the reproductive health and wellbeing of the mother and newborn baby.
Keywords: North Eastern Nigeria, Pregnant Women, Reproductive Health, maternal care services, primary health care centres
Awareness and Attitude towards Utilization of Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents in Calabar Municipality (Published)
Purpose: The main focus of this study was awareness and attitude towards utilization of Reproductive health services among adolescents in Calabar Municipality. Objectives: In order to successfully carry out the study, the following objectives were formulated to guide the study. To determine the level of awareness of adolescents towards utilization of reproductive health services in Calabar municipality. To assess the attitudes of adolescents towards utilization of reproductive health services in Calabar municipality. To identify the barriers of adolescents towards utilization of reproductive health services in Calabar municipality. Literature: Literature, was reviewed based on the research variables, Methods: the research instrument used in collecting data for analysis was a questionnaire which was administered on one hundred and fifty (150) adolescents in Calabar Municipality who served as sample for the study. Their responses were analyzed using frequencies, percentage and Pearson product moment correlation analysis and the following results were obtained. Results: in table 3 indicate that 50(33.3%) of the respondents strongly agreed that they did not like reproductive health services because of its complications to health while 3(2%) agreed, 84(56%) of the respondents strongly disagreed while 13 (8.6%) of the respondents disagreed. 40(26.6%) of the respondents strongly agreed, that they like reproductive health services because it prevents unwanted pregnancy, 44(29.3) disagreed, 60(40) of the respondents strongly disagreed while 6(4%) disagreed. 8(26.6%) strongly agreed that they love going to hospital because the nurses there will explain different methods of reproductive health services to them 90(60%) agreed, while 2(1.3%) strongly disagreed, 50(33.3%) disagreed. 80(53.5%) of the respondents strongly agreed that they love reproductive health services because they do not want to be pregnant, 8(5.3%) agreed, 60(40%) strongly disagreed and 2(1.3%) disagreed. 30(20%) of the respondents strongly disagreed that most adolescent choose the wrong method because it offers an appropriate method to each adolescent 30(20%) disagreed while 45(30%) agreed, 45(30%) strongly agreed. 45(30%) of the respondents strongly agreed that most women choose the wrong method because of improper counseling based on culture religion and ignorance 30(20) agreed while 30(20%) strongly disagreed and 45(30%) disagreed. Conclusion: Reproductive health services were accessible to adolescents in Calabar Municipality. And most adolescents were aware of the reproductive health services but fail to utilize it. There is no significant relationship between attitude of reproductive health services and adolescents utilization of reproductive health; Reproductive health services were available to the public for use. There is no significant relationship between barriers of reproductive health services and adolescents utilization of reproductive health services. Nevertheless, it was concluded that Local Government authorities should organize enlightenment campaigns, to educate adolescents in the area on the importance of reproductive health services.
Keywords: Adolescence, Reproductive Health, Utilization, attitude, awareness