Browsing by Author "Owaka, Isaac O."

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    Accessibility factors associated with adherence to healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy among women of reproductive age in Kilifi County, Kenya
    (International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2024-09) Supaki, Esther K.; Owaka, Isaac O.; Mutisya, Redempta K.; Okari, Geoffrey M.; Matok, Vincent O.
    Background:Globally, about 25% of births occur with shorter intervals annually with over 12 million underage pregnancies mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya records about 20% teenage pregnancies while Kilifi County reported 28.9%. In Kilifi County, 19.6% of births do not adhere to the 24-month birth-interval. The study focused on establishing accessibility factors associated with adherence to healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy (HTSP) among reproductive age women in Kilifi County, Kenya. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted with a sample of 293 respondents. All required approvals and consent were obtained. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires. Descriptive data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 and inferential statistics computed through Chi-square tests. Results: About 60.1% respondents adhered to heathy timing and spacing of pregnancy, 69.4% teenage pregnancies occurred and 67.1% of women adhered to the 24-month inter-birth interval. Availability of family planning (FP) services (p=0.008), experience with providers (p=0.005), cost of accessing FP (p=0.001) and source of information (p=0.002) were associated with HTSP. Conclusions: About 4 out of 10 women of reproductive age in Kilifi County do not adhere to the recommended HTSP. Accessibility factors such as cost and availability of family planning services, source of information and experience with healthcare providers significantly influenced adherence to HTSP. The Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders should scale up awareness activities, provide mobile clinics and concentrate on regular continuous medical education among healthcare providers to enhance their role in provision of reproductive health services.
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    Barriers and Enablers to Postnatal Care Services Utilization among Women of Reproductive Age in Bosaso District, Somalia
    (International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2025-07-01) Mohamud, Suad M.; Owaka, Isaac O.; Musau, Joseph K.
    Background: The postnatal period is the period immediately following birth and up to six weeks after delivery. Quality postnatal care is important for continuity of care for the mother and the newborn. The aim of this study was to establish the barriers and obstacles to postnatal services utilization among women of reproductive age in Bosaso district, Somalia. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analysis and a community-focused approach. The sample size was determined by the statistical formula proposed by Cochran (1998) and 384 women participated in the study. Questionnaires were used to obtain quantitative data. Qualitative data was obtained through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Data was analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) V25. Chi square test provided inferential statistics with 95% confidence intervals, and a p value cut-off of ≤0.05. Results: The response rate was 100%. 33.3% were aged 23 to 28 years while 49.0% were married. There was a statistically significant association (χ²=6.007, df=2, p=0.050, Cramer’s V=0.050) between marital status and the utilization of postnatal care services. There was no significant association between education levels and the uptake of postnatal care services, (χ²=3.497, df=3, p=0.321, Cramer’s V=0.321). There was a statistically significant correlation between accessibility of health facilities and utilization of postnatal care services. Conclusions: Marital status is a significant factor in utilizing postnatal care services. Distance to health facilities impacts health seeking behaviour. Majority never attended postnatal care services as recommended.