Awareness and use of maternal and child health-care services among people of Dagbadna Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State

Abstract

Background and Aim: Maternal health care services are critical to reducing maternal fatalities and should be available throughout the health system due to their importance in ensuring safe motherhood and the overall well-being of families and communities. The purpose of this research is to ascertain the level of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) awareness and utilization among residents of Nasarrawa State's Dagbadna Karu Local Government Area. Materials and Methods: Purposive sampling was used to determine the sample size (n = 286) for a descriptive cross-sectional study that ran from September 2022 to December 2022. Statistical Package Service Software (SPSS) version 23.0 was used to analyze the data, which included tables, percentages, and Chi-square test statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. Results: With a mean age of 29.6 years, 42% of the participants were between the ages of 33 and 38. In comparison, 255 of the participants (89.5%) were married, while 14 (4.9%) were unmarried. The most common level of education is secondary education, which is held by 111 respondents, or 38.8%. This study found a high level of awareness (196.6, 68.7%) but a low level of utilization of MCH Care Services (137.5, 48.1%). It also demonstrates that participants' knowledge and utilization of maternal and child healthcare services are not significantly related (Chi-square (χ2)= 8.867, df = 1, P = 0.012). Conclusions: The primary goal of MCH Services remains to ensure that every woman maintains optimal health throughout pregnancy and puerperium, with a healthy mother and baby at the end of pregnancy, and to support the child's health throughout infancy and childhood. As a result, this research suggests a strategy for increasing community participation and, ultimately, sustaining and improving the quality, usability, and accessibility of maternal health care services provided by government agencies in both rural and urban areas.