Date of Conferral

8-14-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Nazarene Tubman

Abstract

This basic qualitative research study explored the perceptions and lived experiences of pregnant and postpartum women in Arochukwu, Abia State, Nigeria, where access to quality prenatal and maternal healthcare is limited. Nigeria records the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to weak healthcare systems, poverty, and entrenched sociocultural norms. Grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) and guided by the lens of social constructivism, the study explored how health beliefs, perceived risks, benefits, barriers, and cues to action shaped women’s healthcare decisions. Using semistructured, open-ended interviews with 13 purposefully selected women, the study captured how age, education, socioeconomic status, gender norms, and religious or traditional beliefs influenced their access to care and decision-making. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: the centrality of family and male decision-makers, the influence of traditional and religious beliefs, generational disparities, education and class divides, and negative experiences within healthcare settings. Findings also highlighted how intersections of age, gender, social class, and education uniquely impacted women’s health behaviors and outcomes. This study provides important insights into the structural and cultural barriers that impede maternal health and suggests the need for intersectional, community-based, and policy-driven interventions to promote positive maternal health outcomes and reduce mortality rates in Nigeria.

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