Determinants of urban-rural differentials of antenatal care utilization in Nigeria

Demographic and public health studies have indicated urban-rural differences in the utilization of antenatal care services. However, factors accounting for the urban-rural differentials in Antenatal Care use are unknown. The study used the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) to examine the factors associated with the urban-rural differentials in antenatal care utilization in Nigeria. The logistic regression analysis revealed an urban rural differential in the utilization of antenatal care in Nigeria. It was revealed that rural women were less likely to use antenatal care than urban women (O.R= 0.53, C.I= 0.48-0.59). Other determinants of antenatal care utilization in Nigeria include age, region, women educational level, religion, distance to health facility, partner’s educational level, employment status, number of living children and wealth status . This study recommends that public health intervention programs and government efforts should be targeted at addressing these determinants of urban-rural differentials of antenatal care use in Nigeria in order to increase antenatal care use and consequently reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality in Nigeria.