Community and Institutional Factors Influencing Access to Antenatal Health Care Services by Maasai Women in Isinya, Kajiado County
Abstract
The study sought to investigate the community and socio-economic factors affecting access
to antenatal healthcare services in Isinya, Kajiado County. Guided by Reasoned Action
Theory, the study employed a mixed method approach where qualitative and quantitative
data collection methods were used. A sample of 100 participants were selected for survey
while 3 focus group discussion and key informants were used to collect qualitative data.
Quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS and presented in charts and figures.
Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis.
The findings indicated that community (cultural), socio-economic and institutional factors
affect access and uptake of antenatal care by women. Cultural beliefs on Traditional Birth
Attendants, gender power balance, education, financial constraints, and religion form a set
of community and socio-economic factors affecting women’s access and uptake of antenatal
healthcare services. Institutional factors such as availability of health centers, clinic staffing,
and provider-client relationship also influence access to antenatal care services.
The study concludes that these factors pose barriers or enhance women’s access to antenatal
healthcare services depending on how they are juxtaposed. Thus, it is recommended that the
factors that limit access such as poor provider-client relationship, negative cultural beliefs,
low knowledge level, gender power differences, and shortage of staff need to be addressed
through awareness creation, increasing clinic staffing, and community-based support
systems.
Publisher
University Of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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