TO DETERMINE THE CLIENT RELATED FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE UPTAKE OF MATERNITY SERVICES BY WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE ATTENDING LEVEL THREE HEALTH FACILITIES IN IMENTI SOUTH, MERU COUNTY

Abstract

Numerous lives may be saved by maternal health care services despite the fact that millions of women of reproductive age die during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. More women are able to prevent short and long-term maternal disabilities and illnesses such as fistulas, infertility and depression. Kenya has developed a number of policies to improve maternal health. One such policy is the free maternity services policy that allows all pregnant mothers to have access to free maternity services in government facilities across the country. Free maternity services policy allows for provision of free delivery services to expectant women in health facilities run by the Kenyan Government. 189 nations ratified the Millennium Declaration and pledged to accomplish eight objectives by the turn of the twenty-first century. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive research design targeting population of 51,770 women of childbearing age in Imenti South Sub County. The sample size consisted of 100 respondents (women of childbearing aged between 18-49 years). The study employed qualitative and quantitative sampling methods. The sampling procedure was simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Data collection instruments were by questionnaires and observation schedule. Data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and results displayed using tables, bar charts, pie charts and presented using percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviations. Analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Uptake of maternity services. The negative attitude of health care workers greatly influenced Uptake of maternity services. Limited uptake was also linked to poor development of health infrastructure and usage of the facility, which ultimately influenced Uptake of maternity services. Awareness did not match Uptake of maternity services. The study concluded that social demographic factors, client related factors and health facility-related factors can influence the success or failure of Uptake of maternity services by women. It recommended a rights-based approach when designing and delivering free maternity services, strengthening client satisfaction programs and adopting a broader bottom-up approach when engaging rural women to ensure effective development of health infrastructure and usage of the facility. further suggestions for future research was recommended, including studies that explore attitudes and behaviours in varied settings, factors promoting positive attitudes and behaviours, and the effectiveness of interventions to address negative patient experiences in both three-level and other health facilities in Kenya.