| dc.description.abstract | Maternal mortality rates in Kenya increased from 365/100, 000 live births in 1993 to
488/100,000 live births in 2008. Use of health facilities during delivery is important in
the reduction of maternal mortality rates, but the proportion of deliveries taking place in
health facilities has remained below 50% for the last two decades notwithstanding the
global and national policy initiatives on maternal health. Little is known about what
influences the women’s choice of place of delivery. This study uses the Kenya
Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2008-09 data to investigate what influences the
choice of health provider during delivery among women in Kenya. The multinomial logit
model used to identify the factors that influence the type of health facility choice was
estimated using Statasoftware. Results show that, women with highest level of education,
those from richest wealth index and married women were more likely to deliver in private
health facilities. Women with secondary level of education and those from middle wealth
index were more likely to deliver in public health facilities. The policy implication of this
finding is that health inputs like antenatal care during pregnancy should be encouraged.
Information programmes are needed to inform women on the potential risks associated
with home delivery as well as the importance of institutional delivery. | en_US |
