ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF ANTENATAL CARE SERVICES IN MAIKUNKELE, BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NIGER STATE

ABSTRACT Antenatal Care (ANC) is a cornerstone of safe motherhood, yet its access and utilization remain suboptimal in many rural communities in Nigeria, contributing significantly to high maternal and neonatal mortality rates. This study aimed to assess the level of access and utilization of ANC services and investigate the determining factors in the rural Maikunkele Community, Bosso Local Government Area (LGA), Niger State. The specific objectives were to: assess the level of access of Antenatal Care Services in the Maikunkele Community, assess the level of utilization of Antenatal Care Services in the community, investigate the factors that determine the access and utilization of these services. A descriptive, crosssectional survey design was employed, gathering data from a sample of respondents within the Maikunkele community. The research findings highlight significant challenges in accessing and utilizing ANC services in the study area. Specifically, 63% of the respondents reported that the level of access to Antenatal Care Services in the Maikunkele Community is poor. Similarly, 60% of respondents stated that the level of utilization of ANC services is also poor. Furthermore, 51% of respondents agreed that there are specific factors that determine (and often hinder) the access and utilization of these services. Hypotheses testing confirmed that the level of access and the level of utilization of ANC services are both poor in the rural setting of Maikunkele Community, and that determining factors are indeed at play. These findings are strongly aligned with and corroborate the extensive body of existing literature that documents significant rural-urban and regional (particularly Northern Nigeria) disparities in maternal healthcare. The reported 63% poor access and 60% poor utilization in this North-Central Nigerian community are consistent with national data showing lower utilization rates in rural residences, which often face geographical, economic, and sociocultural barriers. The identification of determining factors further reinforces the need for targeted, multi-faceted interventions. The study concludes that the rural Maikunkele Community experiences poor access and utilization of ANC services, mirroring a national challenge that necessitates urgent policy and programmatic interventions to address determinants such as poverty, education, and physical distance to facilities to improve maternal health outcomes.