Economic Determinants of Healthcare Demand Among Pregnant Women in Cross River State, Nigeria: A Negative Binomial Regression Analysis

Margaret Onwanyi Onoyom, Chukwuedo Susan Oburota, Etim Essien Bassey and Samuel Okoi Eno
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Margaret Onwanyi Onoyom: University of Calabar
Chukwuedo Susan Oburota: University of Calabar
Etim Essien Bassey: University of Calabar
Samuel Okoi Eno: University of Calabar

East African Finance Journal, 2026, vol. 5, issue 3

Abstract: The study investigated the economic determinants of healthcare demand among pregnant women in Cross River State, Nigeria, employing a cross-sectional survey of 388 respondents across six purposively selected LGAs (Ogoja, Obudu, Yakurr, Ikom, Calabar Municipality, Akamkpa) using Cochran's formula (n=388, 95% CI, 5% margin). Anchored in Grossman's Health Demand Model, data collected via validated structured questionnaires (Cronbach's α = 0.734) were analyzed using Negative Binomial regression to model ANC visits (mean=3.88, overdispersed: variance=4.296), confirmed appropriate by Kolmogorov-Smirnov (Z=2.559, p 0.05), suggesting price-inelastic necessity demand, while distance (p=0.063) and education gradients were marginal. Policy recommendations include prioritizing supply-side interventions: CRSMoH to construct 10 rural PHCs, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) to deploy 20 mobile ANC units targeting adolescents (22% of sample), and Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (CRSHIS) to mandate enrollment with subsidies for self-employed women (36%). These target facility access dominance to shift ANC utilization from modal 3-4 visits (36%) toward WHO 8-visit standard, addressing 10% zero-visit rate and 75% financial difficulties among Nigeria's maternal health priority population.

Keywords: Healthcare Demand; Economic Determinants; Cross River State; Negative Binomial regression; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C25 I11 I12 I13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cwk:eafjke:2026-029

DOI: 10.59413/eafj/v5.i3.7

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