EFFECTS OF CULTURAL BELIEFS ON UTILIZATION OF MATERNAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

This study assesses the effects of cultural beliefs on utilization of maternal healthcare services among women of reproductive age in North-Central Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. Two (2) research questions and one (1) hypothesis guided the study. The population of six million, four hundred and thirty-five thousand, five hundred and six (6,435,506) respondents for the study consisted of all mothers of child bearing age in North central Nigeria. A sample size of one thousand, one hundred and fifty-two (1152) respondents were used for the study. A multi-stage sampling technique used to select the sample size. A close–ended questionnaire was used to obtain responses from the respondents. The instrument was reliable with 0.804. Descriptive statistics of means and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions. The formulated hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The analysis of the result revealed that cultural belief had significant influenced on the utilization of maternal healthcare services among women of reproductive age in North-Central Nigeria (p = 0.00 >0.05). It was, concluded that cultural belief influences utilization of maternal healthcare services among women of reproductive age in North-Central Nigeria. Following recommendation made that culturally, appropriate health education especially on harmful beliefs and practices should be employed by health educators and practitioners with a view to fostering utilization of maternal healthcare among women of reproductive age in North-Central Nigeria.