Determinants of demand for health facility delivery in western Kenya

Abstract

Health facility delivery is an important component of maternal health care aimed at ensuring safety of the mother and the baby given the risks of developing complications during child birth that may lead to death .It is therefore important to deliver at a health facility where most complications can be handled by skilled birth attendants. However, (KDHS, 2009) reported that only (35.4%) of births in rural areas take place at the health facilities while (64.6%) take place at home. In Western Kenya, only (25.3%) of births take place in health facilities while (74.7%) of births take place at home. This study therefore sought to find out and estimate the determinants of health facility delivery in western Kenya. To meet the objectives of the study data from the KHDS, 2009 was analyzed using both econometric and descriptive methods. The results of the study showed that culture was a strong negative determinant of health facility delivery. Farming which is the region’s main economic activity was also significant and negatively associated with health facility delivery. The rural urban divide was a strong negative determinant of health facility delivery. The study also identified factors that significantly increased the probability of health facility delivery to include; having secondary education or higher by a woman or her partner, making antenatal visits, children born first by the mother. While mass media exposure, mothers’ age at birth and a wanted pregnancy at conception insignificantly increased the probability of health facility delivery. Factors that significantly reduced the probability of health facility delivery included being in the poor wealth quintiles and if a woman belonged to the protestant church. The study recommends a number of policies based on the study findings that include; strengthening of policies focused on the demand side of maternal health care financing, like the OBA project that provides subsidies on health facility delivery costs, creation of awareness on maternal health among women in rural areas .This will provide information to the women and also address any misconceptions that may be brought about by culture or religion