Abstract:
One of the greatest maternal health challenges facing Nigeria, particularly in the northern states, is
the influence of cultural and health-seeking beliefs arising from women in different ethnic groups of
the country. The objective of the study is to explore socio-cultural and health-seeking beliefs related
to maternal healthcare utilisation among women in rural areas of Bauchi state, Nigeria. The study
uses qualitative exploratory research design guided by the Health belief model (HBM). The
underlying concept of the HBM is that health behaviour is determined by personal beliefs or
perception about a disease and the strategies available to decrease it occurrence. In-depth interviews
are used to collect relevant data. All the participants were selected through convenience sampling.
Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with five (5) pregnant/nursing women from each village
in the three (3) randomly selected rural areas, making a total fifteen (15) women. The data collected
was transcribed and analyzed using verbatim quotation and thematic analyses. The findings reveal
that sociocultural beliefs, health system-related beliefs, availability and accessibility of healthcare,
structured by gender, social class, poverty and inequality influences the utilization of maternal
healthcare services in rural areas of Bauchi State. The study recommends that policies and
interventions aiming at addressing the issues of maternal literacy, cost of maternal health services
must be formulated and well implemented. Health workers should be culturally competent when
carrying out their duties. The male's role in reproductive health and other health issues should not be
neglected. Health campaign and counselling need to be intensified to shape maternal health seeking
beliefs of women in rural areas of Bauchi state and to make men more aware of these. |
