| Issue/Objective |
Birth companionship is a WHO-recommended, low-cost intervention that improves maternal and neonatal outcomes and enhances childbirth experiences. However, its implementation remains inconsistent in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Beyond individual preferences, systemic barriers such as restrictive facility policies, provider attitudes, and gendered power dynamics limit equitable access to this intervention. This study aimed to explore the acceptance of birth companionship and examine the structural, institutional, and socio-cultural determinants influencing its utilization among pregnant women in selected Primary Health Care Centres in Ogbomoso North, Oyo State. The study aligns with the conference theme by highlighting gaps in health equity and the need for renewed commitment to people-centered maternal care. |
| Methodology/Approach |
A qualitative cross-sectional design was employed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Ibrahim Taiwo, Okelerin, and Katagua Primary Health Care Centres. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured guide, audio-recorded with consent, and analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke's framework. |
| Results |
Findings revealed high acceptance of birth companionship, with participants expressing a strong desire for emotional, physical, and psychological support during labour, particularly from spouses or close relatives. However, systemic barriers significantly limited implementation. These included restrictive facility-level policies, healthcare provider resistance, and concerns related to privacy, overcrowding, infection control, and workload. Socio-cultural and gender-related factors, such as limited decision-making autonomy, further constrained access. Facilitators included primiparity, prior pregnancy complications, awareness of benefits, and personal motivation for support. |
| Discussion/Conclusion |
While demand for birth companionship is high, its implementation is constrained by upstream determinants including governance gaps, institutional policies, and power imbalances within health systems. Addressing these barriers requires policy reform, provider reorientation, and integration of respectful, woman-centered care into maternal health services. Strengthening accountability and leadership at the primary healthcare level can enhance equitable access. Promoting birth companionship represents a critical step toward reclaiming global health equity and restoring commitment to inclusive, rights-based maternal healthcare in resource-limited settings. |
| Presenters and Affiliations |
Ayinla Praise Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. |
