Publication:

Sociodemographic correlates of utilisation of basic emergency obstetrics and newborn care services in urban and rural Kaduna, Nigeria

Background Nigeria contributes significantly to global maternal mortality, with Kaduna State reporting 1,025 deaths per 100,000 live births. Basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) services can prevent 60% of these deaths, but utilisation between urban and rural areas remain poorly understood. This study compared the correlates of BEmONC services utilisation between urban and rural Kaduna.

Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected through interviews from 720 women (328 urban, 392 rural) who delivered within 36 months prior to the study. The assessment utilised WHO Emergency Obstetric Care indicators and data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics v26.

Results In urban areas, women aged 15-24 years were more likely than those aged≥45 years to utilise BEmONC services, (aOR: 5.4; 95% CI: 1.1-25.6; p=0.033). Women with higher monthly household income earnings of ≥50,001 were more likely to utilise BEmONC services than those earning ≤₦10,000 (aOR: 7.4; 95% CI: 2.6-20.8, p=<0.001). While in rural areas, women who were married for ≥21 years were more likely than those married for ≤5 years to utilise BEmONC services (aOR: 10.9; 95% CI: 1.1-112.8; p=0.045). Women from households with monthly income of ≥₦50,000 (aOR: 7.0; 95% CI: 2.0-25.2; p=0.003) were more likely than those with income ≤₦10,000 to utilise BEmONC services.

Conclusions Strengthening service delivery and addressing barriers to utilisation is crucial for improving maternal and newborn outcomes in Kaduna State.