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UTILISATION OF ANTENATAL AND MATERNITY SERVICES BY MOTHERS SEEKING CHILD WELFARE SERVICES IN MBEERE DISTRICT, EASTERN PROVINCE, KENYA
Abstract
Background: Utilisation of antenatal and maternity services is an important maternal health
indicator. Increasing the proportion of mothers who are cared for in health facilities during
pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium reduces the health risks to mothers and their
children.
Objective: To determine the utilisation of antenatal and maternity services by mothers of
Mbeere District bringing their children to the child welfare clinic.
Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.
Setting: Four rural health centres in Mbeere district.
Subjects: Two hundred mothers bringing their children aged one year and below to the child
welfare clinic between September and December 2000.
Results: The proportion of mothers who utilised health facilities for antenatal and maternity
services was 97.5% and 52%, respectively. Utilisation of health facilities for maternity
services was significantly influenced by number of children and distance to health facility in
that, as number of children increased, utilisation of maternity services reduced (c2=8.99;
p=0.027; df=1). Mothers living less than 5km to a health facility utilised the services better
than those living 5 km and beyond (c2=7.57; p=0.0059; df=1). Among the reasons given by
the mothers (individual respondents and through Focus Group Discussions) regarding
dissatisfaction with the services offered included shortage of drugs and essential supplies,
lack of commitment by staff, poor quality of food and lack of cleanliness in the health
facilities.
Conclusion: Coverage for antenatal services was high among mothers during their last
pregnancy. However, only about half of the mothers interviewed utilised health facilities for
maternity services (labour and delivery). The major constraints experienced by the mothers
as they sought for the services (as reported by individual respondents and through Focus
Group Discussions) included lack of transport, lack of money for transport and hospital fee
and delay in admission to health facility once mothers report in labour. Lack of satisfaction
with quality of care given could be the major demotivating factor in the use of health facilities
for maternity services.
indicator. Increasing the proportion of mothers who are cared for in health facilities during
pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium reduces the health risks to mothers and their
children.
Objective: To determine the utilisation of antenatal and maternity services by mothers of
Mbeere District bringing their children to the child welfare clinic.
Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.
Setting: Four rural health centres in Mbeere district.
Subjects: Two hundred mothers bringing their children aged one year and below to the child
welfare clinic between September and December 2000.
Results: The proportion of mothers who utilised health facilities for antenatal and maternity
services was 97.5% and 52%, respectively. Utilisation of health facilities for maternity
services was significantly influenced by number of children and distance to health facility in
that, as number of children increased, utilisation of maternity services reduced (c2=8.99;
p=0.027; df=1). Mothers living less than 5km to a health facility utilised the services better
than those living 5 km and beyond (c2=7.57; p=0.0059; df=1). Among the reasons given by
the mothers (individual respondents and through Focus Group Discussions) regarding
dissatisfaction with the services offered included shortage of drugs and essential supplies,
lack of commitment by staff, poor quality of food and lack of cleanliness in the health
facilities.
Conclusion: Coverage for antenatal services was high among mothers during their last
pregnancy. However, only about half of the mothers interviewed utilised health facilities for
maternity services (labour and delivery). The major constraints experienced by the mothers
as they sought for the services (as reported by individual respondents and through Focus
Group Discussions) included lack of transport, lack of money for transport and hospital fee
and delay in admission to health facility once mothers report in labour. Lack of satisfaction
with quality of care given could be the major demotivating factor in the use of health facilities
for maternity services.
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