Access and Utilization of Reproductive Health Services Among Market Women in Ijebu Ode Lga of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Knowledge and utilization of sexual reproductive health services (SRHS) is an essential component and a link between prevention, care and support. It can empower an individual to make informed decisions about their sexual lifestyle that would otherwise predispose individuals to risky sexual life. SRHS research has been done mostly among the youths but the persistence of reproductive health problems among the married women in Nigerian makes this study pertinent.A convenient sampling technique was adopted for this study. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection, which was pilot-tested through test-re-test and yielded a reliability coefficient (index) of .781. Three research questions were formulated and tested. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics and regression analysis fixed at the .05 significant levels.A total of 130 participants were included in the study. The findings from this study showed that majority (59.2%) of the respondents had moderate knowledge of available reproductive health, and factors mostly influencing access to SRHS was peer influence (51.5%). Also, 66.2% never used any SRHS except being pregnant, 60.8% never utilized counseling services, and 78.5% never utilized it for prevention of STIs and unwanted pregnancy, while the study still found out that 67.7% were screened for STIs and HIV. Age (X2 = 13.280; P =.009), educational status (X2 = 22.007; P =.000), and years of marriage (X2 = 17.2765; P =.011) were associated with the utilization of SRHS among the market women.The study concluded that knowledge and utilization of sexual reproductive health services (SRHS) is poor among the market women. Based on the outcome of this study, it was recommended that any programme designed to access and utilise SRHS must include all women of reproductive age regardless their age, educational and socio-economic status.

Keywords: Knowledge, Reproductive health services, market women, Utilization