Home birth and associated factors in Nigeria: a comparative study of rural and urban settings based on the analysis of national population-based data
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Introduction
Despite global efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, Nigeria continues to report disproportionately high rates. Home birth, childbirth occurring outside health facilities and without timely access to emergency obstetric care, remains a significant public health concern. National estimates can obscure stark sub-national disparities. This study estimated the prevalence of home birth and identified associated factors, comparing national, rural, and urban contexts.
Methods
We analysed data from 21,512 mothers using the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, guided by Andersen’s Behavioural Model. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between home birth and a range of individual, household, and contextual factors.
Results
Nationally, 58.1% (95% CI: 56.5, 59.7) of mothers gave birth at home, with prevalence nearly twice as high in rural areas (72.4%) compared to urban areas (36.1%). The North-West region reported the highest prevalence nationally (83.6%), in rural (89.4%) and urban (66.6%) areas. The South-East had the lowest prevalence in rural areas (16.2%), and the South-West in urban areas (16.7%). Nationally and across settings, lower maternal and partner education, poor household wealth, fewer than eight antenatal contacts, higher birth order, Hausa-Fulani ethnicity, and limited exposure to media and the internet were associated with increased odds of home birth. In rural areas, additional predictors included greater difficulty obtaining permission to seek care, distance to facilities, limited maternal decision-making autonomy, and pronounced regional disparities across all northern and the South-South regions. In urban areas, younger maternal age, Islamic religion, and financial barriers to accessing healthcare were uniquely associated.
Conclusion
Home birth remains common in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas and in northern and South-South regions, reflecting persistent structural, socioeconomic, and informational inequities. Addressing home birth requires setting-specific, equity-oriented strategies. In rural areas, policies should prioritise women’s autonomy, reduce geographic and regional barriers, and expand healthcare access. In urban areas, targeted interventions should focus on supporting younger mothers, mitigating financial barriers, and providing culturally and religiously responsive care. Nationally, investments in education, antenatal care utilisation, and access to health information through media and the internet are critical to promoting facility-based childbirth and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.
