Published Article

ABSTRACT

The study examined the influence of socio-economic status and proximity to healthcare facilities on women’s delivery location choices in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised women of reproductive age in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, while a sample of 351 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire titled Socio-economic and Proximity Factors on Delivery Location Questionnaire (SPFDLQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts and a reliability coefficient of 0.84 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha method. Data collected were analyzed using mean and chi-square statistics to answer research questions and test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that socio-economic status has a significant influence on women’s delivery location choices, as women with higher income levels, education, and financial stability were more likely to utilize health facilities for childbirth, while those with lower socio-economic status tended to opt for home delivery or traditional birth attendants. The study further revealed that proximity to healthcare facilities significantly influences delivery location choices, as women who reside closer to health centers are more likely to deliver in hospitals compared to those in remote areas who face challenges such as distance, transportation difficulties, and poor road infrastructure. Based on the findings, it was concluded that both socio-economic status and proximity to healthcare facilities are critical determinants of women’s delivery location choices in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. It was recommended, among others, that government and health stakeholders should implement policies that improve access to affordable maternal healthcare services and establish more functional health facilities in rural communities to reduce distance barriers and promote safe delivery practices.

KEYWORDS: Socio-economic Status, Proximity to Healthcare Facilities, Delivery Location Choice, Nursing Mothers