Poor maternal and child health characterized by high incidence and prevalence of maternal and child mortality and morbidity continues to pose grave challenge to health and development indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria occupies a notable position in the region accounting for poor maternal and child health indicators. Utilization of maternal and child health services plays a strong buffering role against maternal mortality. Unfortunately, accessing these services in formal settings among Nigerians especially in rural and per-urban areas is low. Faith based maternity homes provide alternative to maternal health services provided in the formal setting notwithstanding that the procedures involved in majority of such centres are spirituality oriented. Investigating factors influencing the preference of these settings over the formal setting is therefore an important issue for research. This study investigated factors influencing preference for faith based maternity centres among a representative sample of women attending these centres in Ogbomoso North LGA of Oyo State. The descriptive survey research design was employed in the study and data generated from 125 respondents sampled from two faith based maternity centres in the local government area. Generated data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages and inferential statistics of simple regression at 0.05 alpha level. Findings of the study showed that financial cost (R = 0.686, F(1, 123) = 109.560, p=0.000<0.05.), attitude of health care workers, incessant strike actions and distance of formal health centres significantly influence preference for fait based maternity homes. Recommendations were made on addressing these factors in order to contribute significantly in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.
Keywords: Cost, Faith-Based, Maternal, Mortality, services
