Assessment of predictors of birth preparedness among women in laikipia county, kenya
| dc.contributor.author | Wanjohi, Joseph Mwangi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-14T06:14:29Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-14T06:14:29Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-04 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of master of public health (monitoring and evaluation) in the school of health sciences of kenyatta university April, 2023 Supervisors, Prof. Anthony Wanyoro Doctor Eliphas Gitonga | |
| dc.description.abstract | Maternal death is defined as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes”. It’s the second leading cause of death among women after HIV/AIDS. WHO estimates that about 94% of all maternal deaths worldwide occur in developing countries. One way of reducing the occurrence of maternal mortality is through promoting the practice of birth preparedness among pregnant women. Birth preparedness is the process of strategizing for normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and anticipating the action plan in an obstetric emergency. It helps prevent the occurrence of the delays associated with maternal morbidity and mortality, namely; delay in deciding to seek care, delay in reaching care, and delay in receiving adequate care. This study assessed the predictors of birth preparedness among women in Laikipia county, Kenya. It was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Laikipia East sub-county, Laikipia county, Kenya. The sample size for the study was 259 women who had delivered in the last one year at the time of the study, in Laikipia East sub-county and residing in the study area. Facilities were selected through simple random sampling, whereas participants were selected through systematic sampling at a sampling interval of 4. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews from mothers and maternal and child healthcare providers respectively. Quantitative data was entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Both descriptive and inferential analysis were computed, and results presented in form of tables and graphs. Thematic analysis was applied for qualitative data and presented in themes. Level of birth preparedness was measured using six essential components including the identified facility of delivery, skilled birth attendant, birth companion, finances, transport arrangement and home caretaker. The level of birth preparedness was found to be low at 23.2%. Inferential analysis was done at 95% level of confidence and Pearson’s Chi square and Fisher’s Exact Test were used to measure association. The socio-demographic factors that had significant statistical association with birth preparedness included education, occupation and income (P<0.05). Pregnancy related factors that were significantly associated with birth preparedness included history of miscarriage or still birth, number of ANC visits and trimester of first ANC visit (P<0.05). The only health system related factor that had significant statistical association with birth preparedness was the level of facility visited for ANC (P<0.05). Statistical significant independent variables were further tested using logistic regression to show the strength and direction of association. Tertiary education was associated with high odds of practicing birth preparedness (AOR=8.469), formal employment increased odds of birth preparedness (AOR=4.898), income above Kshs 39,000 was associated with high birth preparedness (AOR=4.834), having history of miscarriage or still birth increased odds of birth preparedness (AOR=3.740), and first trimester for first ANC (AOR=2.638). In conclusion, education, occupation, income, history of miscarriage or still birth and trimester of first ANC were the predictors of birth preparedness. The researcher recommended strengthening of policies aimed at increasing birth preparedness and education on its importance to be scaled up. Increase income generating programs to empower women economically and enable them to plan for their births. Further studies also recommended to evaluate the utilization and impact of birth preparedness plans | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29584 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | Assessment of predictors of birth preparedness among women in laikipia county, kenya | |
| dc.type | Thesis |