Uptake of maternal services and associated factors in the western region of Kenya.

Lawrence Ikamari

doi:10.11604/pamj.2020.37.192.22406

Abstract

Introductionthe western region of Kenya has high early childhood mortality and maternal mortality. Maternal services have been shown to an effective strategy for reducing early childhood mortality and maternal mortality.Methodsthe study used data drawn from the 2014 Kenya Demography and Health Survey. It focuses on 1397 women who had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey. The study is guided by Anderson behavioural model. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression are used to analysis the data.Resultsalmost all the women sought antenatal care (ANC) services during their most recent pregnancy. Only 20% of the women initiated ANC visits during the first trimester and 54% of the women made at least four ANC visits. Mother's education, household wealth index, county of residence and the timing of ANC visits were strongly associated with making at least four ANC visits. About 55% of the women had skilled attendance at delivery and 54% delivered in a health facility. Delivery in a health facility was influenced by the mother's education, household wealth index, type of place of residence, county of residence, timing of ANC visits and whether or not a women made at least four ANC visits.Conclusionthe uptake of ANC services is universal in the region. However majority of the women do not start ANC visits early and do not make at least four ANC visits as recommended. Slightly over half of the women receive skilled attendance at delivery and deliver in health facilities. A number of factors are closely associated with the uptake of maternal services in the region. Concerted efforts should be made to have the majority of the women in the region to initiate ANC visits early, to make at least 4 ANC visits and to deliver in health facilities.

Highlights

Provision of a continuum of maternal health care services by skilled personal during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and the postnatal period prevents maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality [1,2,3]
The results show that compared with women with no education, women with higher education were almost 4 times more likely to deliver in a health facility
The study has established that the uptake of antenatal care (ANC) care services is universal in the region: 97 percent of the women reported partaking in ANC care services during their most recent pregnancy

Summary

Introduction

Provision of a continuum of maternal health care services by skilled personal during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and the postnatal period prevents maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality [1,2,3]. It is recommended the expectant mothers receive antennal care during pregnancy and deliver their babies with the assistance of trained and experienced health personnel. Births that occur at home or the roadside are less likely to be attended by skilled health providers. The literature indicates that most non-abortion maternal deaths occur around the time of labour and delivery or within the few hours after birth. Odds ratios indicating the net effect on Odds ratios indicating the net effect Number of cases (N)

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion