Patterns of Delivery Assistance among Adolescent Mothers in Nigeria

Christiana A. Alex-Ojei, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Nigeria
Clifford O. Odimegwu, University of the Witwatersrand
Joshua O. Akinyemi, University of Ibadan

Adolescent mothers in Nigeria have been observed to have consistently low rates of utilisation of skilled birth attendance. Therefore, this study examined the sociodemographic and health factors associated with the pattern of delivery assistance among adolescent mothers aged 15-19 in Nigeria. The study makes use of a weighted sample of 2,096 adolescent mothers from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2013. Data were analysed using frequencies, chi square tests and multinomial logistic regression respectively. It was discovered that mothers’ age, age at first birth, wealth status, ethnicity, sex of household head, partner’s educational status, region of residence and antenatal care usage were associated with the type of birth attendant used. Interventions to increase the use of skilled birth attendants among adolescent mothers in Nigeria must consider the continued preference for traditional and unskilled birth attendants and unassisted deliveries, and design culturally sensitive programmes.