Barriers and Facilitators to the uptake of skilled delivery services in Kenya: A Case Study of Kajiado County

Abstract

Background Access to skilled delivery service during childbirth is essential to reducing maternal mortality. The study aimed to investigate the factors associated to the uptake of health facility childbirth in Kenya. Methods Data on place of delivery, and a range of potential explanatory factors were collected by questionnaire on 376 women and augmented with distance from the nearest health facility estimated using health facility. Influencing factors and barriers associated to low uptake of skilled delivery service were explored. Data processed and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results Of the 376 women included in the analysis, 84.8% of them delivered in a health facility. Almost all of the mothers (84.3%) attended or received antenatal care at their last pregnancy with 56.2% of them having three or more ANC visits. Mother’s and husband’s educational attainment, residence, family income, ANC attendance, frequency of ANC visits, place of delivery were significantly associated with the use of skilled delivery services. Conclusion This state of affairs should be a major cause of concern to policy makers and implementers since no woman should die while giving birth. To address accessibility of health services, the government should construct more health facilities and at the same time employ more health personnel. We strongly call on the government to intensify health education and promotion activities, carry out more outreach programs targeting the hard to reach communities.