Barriers to use of reproductive health services among young women living in urban poor areas of Abuja, Nigeria

Low use of reproductive health (RH) services is a major contributor to the high maternal mortality/morbidity in Nigeria. National/international governmental and non-governmental organizations have made considerable strides to increase availability of RH services especially in urban Nigeria. However, many of these life-saving services are not being utilized, especially among young women known to be less socio-economically empowered. Hence, this study aimed to identify the barriers young women face in using RH services (antenatal, delivery, postnatal, post-abortion, family planning, and STI services) in two urban-poor communities (Karu and Nyanya) in Abuja, Nigeria. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted among thirty women (18 – 24 years). Preliminary analysis shows these women desire to use RH services; however, they are deterred by the long waiting-time and negative provider attitudes prevalent in the government-owned hospitals. The average waiting-time for a regular antenatal visit was seven hours and many of the unmarried women perceived negative attitudes from the nurses when they sought contraceptive methods. Distance and cost of services were not perceived as barriers to service utilization as the women acknowledged availability of affordable RH services in the public hospitals within their communities. However, they preferred to receive RH services from patent medicine stores because they do not face the aforementioned barriers there, despite their awareness that patent medicine sellers may not have the necessary qualifications and/or experience. Increasing the workforce and providing regular provider-training on appropriate provider-client interaction can help alleviate the challenges young women face in using RH services in urban-poor areas of Nigeria.