Correlates of antenatal care usage among adolescent mothers in Nigeria: a pooled data analysis

This study examined selected correlates of timing and frequency of antenatal care visits among adolescent mothers aged 15-19 in Nigeria. Data from the women's recode dataset of the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys between 2003 and 2018 were pooled, with a sample size of 4,775. Multivariate data analysis was carried out using binary logistic regression. It was found that being educated (aOR = 1.54; CI = 1.14-2.08; aOR = 1.64; CI = 1.11-2.42); higher wealth status (aOR = 1.88; CI = 1.45-2.43; aOR = 1.92; CI = 1.33-2.76); contributing to health decision-making (aOR = 1.44, CI = 1.15-1.81); having an educated partner (aOR = 1.73; CI = 1.31-2.30; aOR = 2.44; CI = 1.84-3.25); and living in the South West region (aOR = 3.68; CI = 1.72-7.87) were associated with higher complete antenatal care utilization. Having difficulty getting permission to go to the health facility (aOR = 0.75, CI = 0.57-0.99) and with the distance to the health facility (aOR = 0.61, CI = 0.49-0.75) were associated with lower likelihood of ANCU. Respondents with secondary and higher education were more likely to start ANC early (aOR = 1.57, CI = 1.05-2.34), but Muslim mothers (aOR = 0.61, CI = 0.40-0.32) and those living in the North West (aOR = 0.43, CI = 0.26-0.71), South-South (aOR = 0.30, CI = 0.17-0.53) and South West (aOR = 0.29, CI = 0.12-0.69) were less likely to begin ANC early. Therefore, interventions to increase antenatal care must be region-specific, and focus attention on lower status adolescent mothers with less autonomy.

Automated summary

The study found that educated, wealthier, and involved in health decision-making adolescent mothers were more likely to utilize complete antenatal care. However, facing difficulties in obtaining permission to go to health facilities or living far from health facilities may lower the likelihood of antenatal care visits.