Thesis:

Predictors of maternal health services uptake among women aged 15 to 49 years in Moyale subcounty referral hospital, Marsabit county, Kenya

Maternal mortality is still a key problem that concerns Kenyan public. As the World Bank found in 2020, there were 355 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, 31 infant motility for each thousand live births in 2023. The country’s Vision 2030 intends to bring down the maternal “mortality rate” (MMR) to 113 for every 100,000 live births to ensure reduction of maternal deaths by two-thirds. In Northern Kenya, the maternal death rate is about 860 and the MMR rate is 1127 in every hundred thousand live births, which means the numbers are even higher in Marsabit County. Due to restricted high-quality medical care, far-away health facilities, little education, effects of religion, low wages, and age-old cultural traditions, women tend to choose to give birth in their own homes (Procurement Details, n.d.). For this reason, there are low rates of women using maternal healthcare centers in Moyale Sub-County. Investigation aimed to discover the determinants of using maternal health centers from Moyale Sub-County referral hospital in Marsabit County by those who are aged 15 to 49. Study aimed to examine at how mothers’ awareness, cultural and economic conditions, and reproductive situations affect their use of maternal services. To explore changes in women’s behaviour, the theory of the Trans-theoretical models was used for women providing them with pre- and postnatal care at Moyale Sub-County Referral Hospital. Study involved analytical, cross-sectional study design utilizing collected data. With the Cochran formula, a sample of 384 women was set up, and 354 women gave their responses to the survey questions. We included two focus groups and structured meetings with mothers as ways to collect information. The research team chose subjects by using systematic random sampling. With “SPSS version 25”, quantitative data analysed and outcome expressed as percentages and frequency distributions. The research used a chi-square multiple regression analysis to explore whether there is a causal link among the variables. It was found that 96% of the people who answered the survey knew about the maternal healthcare services, whereas 4% did not. Factors from the community and culture greatly affected uptake, as women in age bracket 26-35 and 36-45 were most probable to receive maternity healthcare (OR=1.419, P=0.003; OR=1.288, P=0.017). Among study subjects, Women mainly in charge homesteads were higly likely to prefer Maternal Health Question in contrast to led by husbands (OR=1.584, P=0.002). consumption of MHS often depended on socio-economic factors since access to such services was reduced as the fees increased (OR=0.556, P=0.007). Education played a major role as well, showing that, in comparison to those who were uneducated, those possessing higher education were most exposed to get maternal attention (OR=1.98, P=0.001). Mothers who had given birth 4-6 or more times were most often users of maternal healthcare services (OR=1.087, P=0.013). Officials suggested launching complete awareness programs about pregnancy spacing and mother’s health, so the public can be more involved in proper prenatal care in Moyale Sub-County referral hospital.