Socioeconomic Inequalities in Maternal Health Care Utilization and Delivery Channels in Nigeria

Abstract

Inequalities in maternal health care services prevent women of reproductive ages from accessing required care. The existence of equitable distribution channels can substantially diminish these discrepancies. This study examines the inequalities in maternal health care utilization outcomes and the socioeconomic factors that contribute to these inequalities and identifies the delivery channels that can effectively reduce disparities in utilization. The paper employed 2013 and 2018 data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys. The utilization variables are; at least four antenatal care visits, deliveries by skilled birth attendants, delivery in a health facility, and postnatal care attendance. The degree of socioeconomic disparities in maternal outcomes was evaluated using the Erreygers concentration indices and the slope index of inequality. The decomposition analysis was performed using a TPM model to determine the contribution of various socioeconomic factors to inequality in the utilization outcomes. Findings reveal that disparities in the country's utilization of maternal health care services are prevalent. The community-based health delivery channel is the least inequitable. It can work effectively in mitigating socioeconomic disparities in maternal care uptake. The significant contributors to inequalities in the indicators of maternal healthcare utilization are education and wealth indices.