Objective
To assess whether age cohort influences the likelihood of receiving antenatal care (ANC) and having a supervised delivery, before and after adjusting for other factors.

Design
Using data from the 2008 NigeriaDemographicandHealthSurvey, we grouped women into three distinct cohorts based on their year of birth: the young (1984–1993), the middle (1974–1983) and the older (1959–1973) cohorts. We applied multilevel logistic regression methods to assess the influence of age cohort on receiving ANC and having a supervised delivery among women (n=18,028) whose most recent birth occurred anytime in the five years preceding the survey.

Results
We identified belonging to the youngest age cohort, rural residence, lack of schooling, higher parity, residence in northern region and poor economic status as determinants of low uptake of ANC and supervised deliveries.

Conclusion
Urgent efforts are needed in Nigeria to ensure that young women in particular receive ANC and have supervised deliveries. An agenda promoting a combination of individuals campaigning for change (particularly in northern Nigeria), communities raising awareness among men and women, and governmental and nongovernmental organizations working together to find practical solutions is an indispensable aim for saving the lives of many women and children who are at risk of dying of maternal and child-related diseases.