Background: Health facility delivery is an important factor in reducing deaths arising from complications of pregnancy. Despite the importance of prenatal care the extent of its contribution to hospital based delivery has not yet been evaluated in Nigeria. This study aimed to estimate the extent of the contribution of pre-natal care to hospital delivery in Nigeria.
Methods: Data from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were utilized. The 2013 NDHS was conducted in all the states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The study population comprised of 31, 828 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were asked questions from the delivery module. The primary data for the survey were collected by visiting households and conducting face-to-face interviews and with the use of questionnaires to obtain information. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.
Result: The mean age of mother was 29.4 years ± 7 standard deviation. The prevalence of health facility based delivery in 2013 was 35.8%. Prenatal care was received by 13477(66%). Among Nigeria women 34.6% felt delivering their babies in the hospital was not important. Among those who received pre-natal care 7350(54.6%) delivered in the health facilities compared to 289(4.2%) health facility delivery among those who did not receive pre-natal care. (p<0.001). Those who received pre-natal care were 12 times more likely to deliver in the health facility (95% CI= 10.56-14.42) p<0.001. In those who had prenatal care 53% reduction in home delivery occurred.
Conclusion: To increase health facility delivery in Nigeria efforts to encourage the use of antenatal care services are pertinent.