Socio Economic Determinants of Maternalhealthcare in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to analyze how various socioeconomic factors affect the consumption of maternal healthcare in Mandera County. The study holistically focused four packages of maternal healthcare namely: antenatal care, facility-based delivery, postnatal care and modern use of contraceptives in the county of Mandera. Probit model was employed in estimating maternal health care among women in Mandera. The dependent variable was demand for maternal health care with the explanatory variables being the socio-economic and demographic factors of the individual or household that influences the decision to demand for maternal health care. The source of the data for this study was obtained from the 2014 Kenya demographic health survey. The study findings were that age had a positive effect on MHC with older women found to utilize MHC service more compared to younger women. On education front, women who are educated utilize MHC services more than the uneducated ones. Married women seek for MHC more than unmarried women though insignificant. On place of residence, rural women have less demand on MHC compared to urban women. The economic front reveals that, household wealth status has positive significant effect on the MHC demand. Similarly is the effect of employment status. Further, possession of a health insurance cover have positive effect. Based on the findings, the study recommends on the need for sensitization and awareness creating among illiterate and rural residing women on the need and importance for MHC services. Second is the need for expansion of the health infrastructure to increase access where distance is a problem. On economic front, there is the need for the county government to empower the rural household through investing in the community livelihood empowerment Programmes at large