Abstract
Purpose. The main objective was to establish determinants of maternal health care utilization and specifically to assess the trends of maternal health care utilization and determine the predictors of maternal health care service utilization in the era of free maternity policy in Busia County.
 Methodology. It was a cross-sectional study design. The study was conducted between February and April 2019. The research targeted mothers within childbearing age of 15-49 years and a sample size of 634 mothers was used. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics was used to describe results on socio-demographic characteristics while inferential statistics employed bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions to investigate determinants of maternal health care utilization. Odds ratio was used to test the strength of association, and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 considered as statistically significant.
 Results. In 2010, FANC increased by 5.6% from 2010 (pre-free maternity period) to 2017 (post-free maternity era). There was also an increase of 2.2% cases of health facility deliveries during pre-free maternity period (2010) and post-free maternity period (2017). Eleven predictors of maternal health care utilization were identified. Among them were respondent being a farmer (OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4-4.8; p = 0.002), the status of the infrastructure of the nearest health facility maternity being good (OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.1-9.6; p = 0.03), fare for the public vehicle being USD 0.2 (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.6-7.1; p = 0.001), all maternal health services being available in the nearest health facility (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.8-5.4; p<0.0001), difficulty to attend MCH services due to non-suitability of working days (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.5-4.7; p=0.0008), there being some services that clients pay for (OR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5-7.4; p=0.004), services being provided by nurses (midwives) (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0-4.9; p=0.04) , baby checkup being done within 24 hours by nurses (OR = 18.8; 95% CI: 8.0-44.0; p<0.0001. In conclusion, free maternity care program has led to increased utilization of facility ANC visits and deliveries in the study area. Barriers related to utilization of maternal health care services included unreliable transport especially at night, limited infrastructure and low socio-economic status of the women in the study area. National and county governments need to put in place strategies which will help them to jointly assess, map and plan investments to improve utilization of maternal health care services through prioritizing investments in human resource, infrastructure and commodities based on the anticipated demand for such services.
 A unique contribution to theory, practice, and policy: The study findings identified key factors that are unique to the mothers in Busia County on predisposing factors, enabling factors and the need characteristics that determine utilization of maternal health care in the era of Free Maternity services in the study area. These results contribute to both maternal health care utilization and policy change that could directly meet the social setting, geographical location and cultural needs of the people of Busia County.
Highlights
Approximately 830 women die daily from avoidable causes that are associated with childbirth and pregnancy
National and county governments need to put in place strategies which will help them to jointly assess, map and plan investments to improve utilization of maternal health care services through prioritizing investments in human resource, infrastructure and commodities based on the anticipated demand for such services
The respondent being a farmer, the infrastructure of the nearest maternity of the health facilities in the area being good, fare for the public vehicle being twenty shillings, availability of maternal health services, non-suitability of working days, payment of some services by the client, services being provided by nurses, baby checkup being done within 24 hours by nurses and clients who take less than 30 minutes to reach the nearest health facility by the public vehicle were statistically significantly associated with maternal health care utilization and identified as the key determinants of maternal health care utilization
Summary
Approximately 830 women die daily from avoidable causes that are associated with childbirth and pregnancy. Many factors have been identified as predictors of utilization of maternal health care services by women which includes cost of care This has led to the introduction of different approaches both globally and in the African region. Their main objective is to cut down the monetary barriers to health care with priorities being emphasized on vulnerable groups and high priority services. This intention is aimed at accelerating the maternal health care utilization which in turn reduces the maternal mortality rate [4]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.