FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO LOW UTILIZATION OF MATERNITY SERVICES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING NAMUGONGO HEALTH CENTRE III, KALIRO DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Maternity services commence right from Antenatal Care (ANC) which includes health education, counseling, screening, treatment, and monitoring of the mother and fetus's condition in utero to promote their well-being up to the time of delivery and postnatal care which includes the care given to the mother after giving birth to ensure wellbeing of both the mother and the baby.

 Methodology

The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design, using semi-structured questionnaires to collect quantitative data from 59 systematically randomly sampled participants. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the results presented information charts, tables, and figures.

 Results

It was noted that the majority of the respondents (31%) were aged between (25-34) years, with (40.7%) of the respondents reporting being married and bout (36%) having attained a primary level of education. (61%) of the respondents said that they were aware that health care providers for maternity services were readily available, while (54%) said that their homes were 2-3km from the health facilities, close to (61%) of the respondents said that the health facilities had no privacy in maternity consultation and (49%) said that sometimes there are no enough equipment and medications in the health facilities. (81%) reported that they spend a lot of time waiting for the health workers due to long queues.

 Conclusions

The established factors leading to low utilization of maternity services were: long waiting hours for the maternity services due to long queues, lack of adequate privacy during consultation, and long distances from the health facility.

  Recommendations

There is a need for the government to increase the supply of medical equipment and supplies for maternity services.

Health facilities should increase and improve privacy especially when examining patients in maternity units.