Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Maternal and Child Health Service Utilization in Mwingi; A Rural Semi-Arid District in Kenya

Abstract

By the end of this year (2015), Kenya is expected to meet the targets of Millennium Development Goals number 4 and 5 among others. Available evidence suggests that utilization of Maternal and Child Health services is critical in realization of these goals. The aim of this study was to explore the socio-demographic factors influencing Maternal and Child Health service utilization in Mwingi district. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected from a sample of 416 women. Variables of interest were; socio-demographic variables and selected MCH service utilization indicators. Binary logistic regression model was used to assess the influence of socio demographic characteristics on MCH service utilization. Results indicated that Women who sought WHO recommended Antenatal Care services (at least 4 visits) were 38.9%, 47% delivered assisted by Skilled Birth Attendants , 46.2% sought postpartum care within 2 days after delivery, 88.7% ensured their children completed routine immunizations in time and 35.6% used modern family planning within 6 weeks after postpartum. Women with secondary education and above, women in households earning more than 1 US Dollar in a day and women in employment or operating a business were more likely to utilize MCH services. Women over 26 years of age and these with 3 children and above were less likely to utilize MCH services with exception of utilization of Family Planning services in which Women with 3 children and above were more likely to utilize Family Planning services compared to these with 2 children and below. Increasing the number of women with secondary level of education and above, creating initiatives to economically empower people especially these living in rural semi-arid regions, and developing and implementing age specific health education programs may improve utilization of MCH services in Mwingi district and other semi- arid regions in Kenya.