Reproductive health in urban Nigeria: an exploration of variations in maternal and child health outcomes among poor and non-poor urban women

Sunday T. Omoyeni, Obafemi Awolowo University
Olusina Bamiwuye, Obafemi Awolowo University
Akanni I. Akinyemi, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of the Witwatersrand
Adesegun O. Fatusi, Obafemi Awolowo University
Adekunbi Omideyi, Obafemi Awolowo University

The study examined predictors of maternal and child health outcomes using a sample of 3,022 and 3,609 urban poor and non-poor women respectively, from the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Cross tabulations and binary logistic regressions were used to examine possible relationships between selected socio-demographic variables and maternal and child health outcomes. The results revealed the existence of disparities in urban reproductive health outcomes, with urban poor women experiencing higher burden of poor maternal and child health outcomes. Findings from the multivariate analysis showed that wealth status, educational level, employment status, age at first birth and ethnicity explained most of the variations in maternal and child health outcomes among urban women. The findings of the study may have implications for giving more attention to meeting urban poor women health needs, with a focus on the factors challenging their access to quality maternal and child health care services.