Determinants of Uptake of Health Facility Delivery among Women of Reproductive Age in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The peripartum period is principally crucial for the survival of the foetus, mother, and newborn. Globally and especially in developing countries, millions of childbirths occur annually outside a health facility and thus without any assistance from a skilled attendant. The study was conducted to determine the factors that affect the uptake of health facility delivery among women of reproductive age in Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: Analysis of secondary data obtained from the 2018 NDHS dataset was done. The survey collected data on a sample of women within the reproductive age group (15-49 years) who had live births in the 5 years preceding the 2018 survey in Plateau State using a two-stage cluster design.  Information on these women was electronically captured using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). The dataset was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: A total of 797 women were surveyed who had a mean age of 29.8 ± 6.6 years. The uptake of health facility delivery was 43.4% among the respondents. Predictors of health facility delivery were wealth index and literacy levels as respondents in the highest wealth quintiles (OR=14.1; 95%CI=4.1-48.7) and high literacy levels (OR=3.5: 95% CI=2.0-6.2 for the most literate) were more likely to deliver in health facilities. Conclusion: There was a poor uptake of health facility delivery with wealth and literacy levels being the determinants. Efforts to improve the uptake of health facility delivery should prioritize women of lower socioeconomic and educational status as targets.