Abstract

This study examined socio-cultural determinants of Nursing Mothers Utilization of Infant Welfare Clinic in Iwo  Local Government Area, Osun state. Hypotheses were based on the variables of poverty/low economic status, proximity to the clinic, marital status and cultural belief. The primary data were obtained from a cross section of 200 women, drawn from four infants’ clinic across the Local Government Area. The data was collected with a questionnaire and analysis was done with simple percentages for demographic information while inferential statistics of chi-square (c2) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 Alpha level. The study found that majority of women were age between 18 and 40 years (86.0%), 53.5% were married before childbirth, while 44% gave birth before marriage. 71% claimed they were Christian, while the dominant occupation using the women include trading (42%) farming (32.5%) and civil servant (25.5%). The findings of the results revealed that response of the respondents varied significantly across all factors (poverty/low economic status, proximity to the clinic, marital status and cultural belief). All the hypotheses were rejected and all the factors confirmed as the factors as determinants of infant welfare service patronage among nursing mothers in Iwo  Local Government Area, osun state. In view of the above, the researcher therefore recommended that the health care facilities need to be provided in rural communities of Osun State, so as to meet the objectives of primary health care which are accessible, available and affordable for rural women to address the problem of proximity and poverty. There is need for health education awareness programme by government and non-government organization to change orientation on common cultural practices of female genital mutilation, reproductive problems, early marriage and food restriction for women during pregnancy and labour.