The Geography of Maternal Health in Jigawa State, Nigeria

In spite of a decrease globally, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Nigeria and its Jigawa State has remained persistently high. Few efforts to address the MMR in Nigeria have been undertaken. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Jigawa State's Free Maternal and Child Health Program (JSFMCHP), education, employment, and parity of pregnant women on health care utilization (the outcome variable), as measured by antenatal care (ANC) visits. Anderson's behavioural model served as the study's theoretical framework. The sample size included 400 antenatal records of pregnant women who were randomly selected from the state's Health Management and Information data collected between 2011 and 2015. Chi-square tests showed a significant association between those who did not participate in the JSFMCHP, education, employment, with ANC. There was no association between parity and the number of ANC visits. These results can influence positive social change if used by policymakers to strengthen policies that have a beneficial impact on maternal morbidity and mortality in Jigawa State, in particular, and Nigeria, in general.