This study aims at exploring the trends and socioeconomic inequalities in the use of maternal healthcare utilization between 1997 and 2014. Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate regression methods. Women in the higher wealth quintiles (Q4 and Q5) generally had higher prevalence of using health facility delivery and postnatal care services compared with those in the lower wealth quintiles (Q1 and Q2), whereas the prevalence of timely and adequate antenatal care visit was comparatively higher among those in the lower wealth quintiles. Findings indicated important sociodemographic inequalities in using maternal healthcare services, addressing which may help promote the utilization of these services.
Keywords: Zambia; health inequality; maternal healthcare utilization; multivariate regression; postnatal care.