Awareness, attitude towards and utilization of maternity waiting home by mothers in Merti Sub County, Isiolo County

Abstract

Despite the relatively high antenatal attendance rate, the rate of delivery in health facilities is low in Kenya. Only 43 percent of live births in the five years preceding the 2008-09 KDHS took place in a health facility. Consequently, complications of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium are leading causes of inpatient morbidity and mortality among expectant women. The main objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of women of child bearing age towards skilled delivery services in a maternity waiting home. The study was conducted in Merti Sub County, Isiolo County. It was a cross sectional mixed method study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data was obtained using questionnaires, focused group discussion, checklist and in depth interview. The chi-square test of association was used in bivariate analysis to find associations between factors. The significant factors from bivariate analysis were then subjected to multivariate analysis using odds ratio. A majority, 255 (66.4%) of respondents attended the first ANC between 4-6 months and only 128 (33.4%) of them attended ANC at least four times during their pregnancy. Half of the mothers 194 (50.5%) had delivered their last child at home. Majority of those who delivered at home, 155 (79.9%) said customs was the main reason for delivering at home. Majority of the mothers 255 (66.4%) were not aware of the presence of a maternal waiting home. Most 231(61.1%) said they would use the facility, though 74 (19.3%) cited high cost of financing as reason of not using the maternal waiting home. TBAs still play a key role in home deliveries and this study revealed that the percentage of home deliveries was 56.26%, higher than health facility delivery (43.75 %.).Accessibility of the MWH itself, risk identification process, the quality of community education, antenatal care and the quality of service at the maternity waiting home are areas that need interventions for utilization of this facility to improve.