| dc.description.abstract | Mt. Kenya sub-district hospital has been having very few mothers delivering in the facility despite its high antenatal and postnatal attendance. The reasons contributing to the underlying problem of low utilization of the maternity services were not known. The aim of study was to explore factors influencing utilization of maternity services by pregnant women at Mt. Kenya sub-district hospital. The objectives of the study was to establish the influence of sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents on utilization of maternity services, to establish the socio-cultural issues affecting respondents on utilization of maternity services, to establish the extent to which health care system affects utilization of maternity services and to assess the knowledge of the respondents on utilization of maternity services.
The study was conducted at Mt. Kenya sub-district hospital maternal child health unit, Mukaro location, Municipality division, Nyeri Central District in April to May 2011. The study employed a descriptive design to establish the factors influencing utilization of maternity services. The sample population comprised of antenatal women seeking services at the antenatal clinic, nursing mother with children aged one year and below seeking/attending child welfare clinic and the hospital's health care workers. Stratified random and purposeful sampling methods were employed to select the sample population.
A systematic random sampling was used and 72 respondents were interviewed. Data was collected using a researcher administered questionnaire and a guided focus group discussion questionnaire. The results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in Tables and textual explanations. The result showed that the respondents mean age was 28.3 years and a median of 27 years, S.D 6.65. Majority of the respondents 45 (73.8%) were married and 80.3% had knowledge on maternal risk factors and services provided at antenatal clinic.
Majority (94.3%) of the mothers had attended antenatal clinic and also had delivered in a health facility. Parity and socioeconomic were found to be predictors of choice of delivery place. Most mothers had attained secondary education and hence were able to recognize the importance of maternal health services utilization. The average monthly income was Ksh 4800.
In conclusion majority of the respondents 45 (90%) did not utilize the maternity services offered at Mt. Kenya hospital due to high charges of the total hospital bill. The main recommendation was to reduce the delivery service charges at Mt. Kenya hospital and ensure availability of all services without meeting extra cost. Therefore the government should ensure that it post more health personnel to enable the facility to offer all maternal health services under one roof. The health facility should facilitate utilization of National Health Insurance Funds (NHIF) by entering into public hospitals contract. | en_US |
