Child Loss Significantly Reduces Future Maternal Healthcare Use in Nigeria

In Nigeria, high rates of maternal and child mortality remain a critical public health challenge. While many factors influence a woman's decision to seek healthcare, the psychological and social impact of a previous child's death is often overlooked. This study addresses a crucial knowledge gap by investigating how the death of a preceding child specifically impacts a mother's subsequent utilization of essential maternal healthcare services.

The study revealed a significant negative association between the death of a preceding child and subsequent maternal healthcare utilization. Women who experienced the death of a preceding child were 28% less likely to utilize four or more ANC visits (OR=0.72, p<0.001) compared to women whose preceding child survived. Utilization of skilled birth attendance (SBA) was also markedly lower, showing a 35% decreased likelihood (OR=0.65, p<0.001) among affected mothers. These associations remained robust even after adjusting for factors like education, wealth quintile, and geographical region, indicating a strong independent effect of child loss on healthcare-seeking behavior. The most striking finding was a 43% reduction in the odds of receiving any postnatal care (PNC) within 42 days of delivery (OR=0.57, p<0.001) for women who had lost a previous child, highlighting a critical gap in follow-up care.