Determinants of maternal autonomyin Nigeria

Utilization of health care services by maternal women has been shown to prevent most maternal deaths and health issues faced by women in Nigeria. Therefore, this study examined the level of maternal autonomy and the determinants of maternal autonomy in utilizing health care services in Nigeria. Data on 10193 married women, living in Nigeria were sourced from Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Data were disaggregated into six Geo–political zones (North Central, North West, North East, South East, South–South, and South West). Information on socio–economic characteristics, level of maternal autonomy, and factors influencing maternal autonomy were obtained. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, composite score analysis, ordered probit regression.The mean age was 30 years. 54.61% of the maternal women have low level of autonomy, 42.92% of the respondents have intermediate autonomy and 2.46% of the respondents have high autonomy. Majority of the respondents have low autonomy. About determinants of maternal autonomy, age of respondents was significant and positively related to maternal autonomy at 1% that is, increase in age leads to increase in maternal autonomy. The household size of respondents was significant at 1% and negatively related to maternal autonomy. Respondents who are working have higher autonomy than respondents who are not working. Respondents who have husbands that are working have lower autonomy when compared to those whose husbands are not working. Also, respondents who have husbands with formal education have high autonomy than those whose husbands are not working. Respondents in north–east and north–west have lower autonomy when compared to north–central while respondents in south–east, south–south and south–west have higher autonomy when compared to respondents in north–central. Efforts should be made by governmental and non–governmental organisations to orientate the women and their spouses on the need for women to be autonomous on issues relating to their health.