Household means of transportation and place of child delivery in Nigeria
Abstract Background The means of transportation available to pregnant women in households may serve either as a driver or deterrent of institutional delivery. However, how household means of transportation associates with place of delivery has been less explored in Nigeria. Methods This study was based on pooled data of 2008-2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. The study analysed a weighted sample size of 6,540 women. The multilevel logistic regression model was applied using STATA 14. Results The study revealed 37% institutional delivery among women in Nigeria. Women whose household mode of transport were cars were twice more likely to have institutional delivery compared to women who had no viable household means of transportation (AOR=2.044, p<0.01; CI=1.781-2.345). Women who live in communities with high proportions of households with no means of transportation were 12.8% less likely to have institutional delivery (AOR=0.872, p=0.01; CI: 0.788-0.967). Women who live in communities with high proportions of household who owned motorcycle compared to those in communities with low proportion were 31.9% more likely to have institutional delivery (AOR=1.319, p<0.05; CI: 1.071-1.625). Women who live in communities with high proportions of households who owned cars compared to those in communities with low proportion were more than three times more likely to have institutional delivery (AOR=3.146, p<0.01; CI: 2.621-3.777).Conclusion Means of transportation significantly explains choice of place of child delivery in urban Nigeria. A public-private transport support programme to reduce transportation burden among pregnant women is imperative in the country.