A systematic review on the factors associated with utilization of maternal healthcare services at the primary healthcare setting among Hausa women in Nigeria.

Introduction The utilization of Maternal Health Services (MHSs) is important to reduce and manage the complications that may arise during pregnancy. This review from literatures identified the factors that discourage the utilization of maternal healthcare services among Hausa women in Nigeria. Methods A systematic mixed studies review was carried out on studies done in Nigeria from the year 2020 to 2025 to synthesize findings from quantitative and qualitative studies. The review adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Peer-reviewed articles were searched through several electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, and Science Direct. After quality appraisal, 9 papers that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were used in the review. Result Findings from the review showed that cultural and religious practices, mothers’ level of education and age, ignorance, insufficient health workers, long waiting period, history of pregnancy complications, and shortage of drugs were factors that hindered utilization of maternal health services in the primary health setting among Hausa women in Nigeria. Conclusion This review has added to knowledge on the importance of maternal health by exploring the factors associated with the utilization of maternal health services, thus providing support to researchers and practitioners. It also offers evidence that policymakers can use to develop a culture-sensitive approach to address the issues that hinder Hausa women from utilizing maternal health services, thus leading to healthier pregnancy outcomes for the upcoming generation. Recommendation The government should allocate more funds to the primary health centers and ensure that the primary healthcare center is well equipped with basic amenities, including the provision of manpower for better maternal health outcomes and service utilization.