What does this research mean for the field?

Fewer than 20% of pregnant women in Nigeria meet the current WHO recommendation of eight or more antenatal care visits, with attainment heavily driven by socioeconomic status, education, and regional disparities. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess antenatal care utilization tiers in Nigeria and determine associated sociodemographic and regional factors using an ordinal framework aligned with World Health Organization guidelines.

September 14, 2026BMC Health Services ResearchOpen Access

Inequalities in antenatal care utilization in Nigeria: an ordinal analysis aligned with WHO guidelines

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Authors

JSJamilu SaniFederal University Birnin Kebbi AAAdewale Nuraen AdesinaObafemi Awolowo University AAAnthonia AwoniyiObafemi Awolowo University

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Implication

Cross-sectional survey analysis reveals steep socioeconomic disparities in antenatal care visits in Nigeria, highlighting gaps in meeting World Health Organization guidelines.

Key Points

To assess antenatal care utilization tiers in Nigeria and determine associated sociodemographic and regional factors using an ordinal framework aligned with World Health Organization guidelines.
Analyzed nationally representative data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey among women aged 15–49 years with at least one live birth in the reference period.
Categorized antenatal care utilization into three ordered levels: fewer than four visits, four to seven visits, and eight or more visits.
Applied design-based chi-square tests and generalized ordered logistic regression to identify predictors across cumulative utilization thresholds.
Overall, 28% of women received no antenatal care during their last pregnancy; 47% attended fewer than four visits, 36% attended four to seven visits, and 17% completed eight or more visits.
Higher education was associated with achieving at least four visits (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 5.33; 95% CI: 4.26–6.66), while residence in the richest households increased the odds of reaching eight or more visits (AOR: 4.38; 95% CI: 3.34–5.74).
Regional inequalities were pronounced, with women in the South West having substantially higher odds of attaining eight or more visits compared to those in the North Central region (AOR: 6.91; 95% CI: 5.74–8.31).

Cite This Study

Sani et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3d00926e14a848b2ff9 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15606-8

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Implication

Cross-sectional survey analysis reveals steep socioeconomic disparities in antenatal care visits in Nigeria, highlighting gaps in meeting World Health Organization guidelines.

Inequalities in antenatal care utilization in Nigeria: an ordinal analysis aligned with WHO guidelines

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Inequalities in antenatal care utilization in Nigeria: an ordinal analysis aligned with WHO guidelines

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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