Optimizing the Utilization of Maternal and Reproductive Healthcare Services among Women in Low-Resourced Nigerian Settings

Abstract

Introduction Quality care delivery is an essential lifesaving intervention for maternal healthcare and reduction in mortality from preventable reproductive conditions. In African countries like Nigeria, numerous perceptions and militating factors present unique challenges in optimizing the utilization of maternal and reproductive healthcare services. As women continuously evolve away from the utilization of healthcare services, achieving universal health coverage for all emerges as a matter of concern. Method A phenomenological and descriptive research design was used. The study participants comprised a total of 38 women including those in anti-natal care, postal-natal and two medical social workers. They were purposively selected from four healthcare institutions in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Result Findings revealed that most rural women at the prenatal stage, utilize maternal healthcare services, but at the postnatal stage, they reject reproductive healthcare services owing to certain perceptions. Concerns about sub-optimal utilization of maternal and reproductive healthcare services were found under enabling, predisposing and need factors. Evidence-based interventions were instituting health insurance policies, improving the healthcare sector, personnel, collaboration among stakeholders, and grass-roots community education. Participants showed little knowledge of social workers’ engagement in healthcare institutions. Conclusion Functional network of care between private and public healthcare systems is the key to optimizing maternal and reproductive healthcare utilization. The study recommends stakeholder and community engagement in achieving functional networks of care, strengthening relational linkages between frontline health workers and equipping rural women with better knowledge on optimal utilization of maternal and reproductive healthcare services among women in low-and middle-income societies.