Mumo, Joyce Kanini2024-09-302024-09-302024-02https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28960A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Master of Public Health (Reproductive Health) in the School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University February, 2024 Supervisors: 1. . Sarah Tai 2. Rosebella KipkalomMobile maternal health is a way of resolving challenges that are of public health concern while shifting the pattern of accessing care and provision to rural areas hence improving maternal and child outcomes. The health of women depicts the economic growth and a country’s well-being. Despite this, it is worrying that approximately 295,000 mothers died in 2017 with impoverished countries accounting for 94%. About 66% of those deaths occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal mortality rate in Kenya is 362 per 100,000 live births. The Kenyan Government has put in place several interventions to address this including mobile maternal health services. This research sought to evaluate mobile maternal health service use among women within reproductive age in Makueni County, Kenya. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in Makueni County. Kibwezi East and Kaiti Sub-Counties were purposively selected. Ukia ward from Kaiti sub-county and Nzambani ward from Kibwezi East sub-county were randomly selected using folded pieces of paper. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Questionnaires were the tools used for quantitative data while guides for key informant were used to collect data qualitatively. The study systematically sampled 367 women of reproductive age as primary respondents from households at a sampling interval of 5. Twelve Key Informant Interviewees were purposively selected to provide additional qualitative data which were community health extension workers and healthcare providers. The research instruments were pretested at Kilome Sub County before actual data collection. Analytical correctional statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 20.0. Pie-charts, frequency tables and graphs were used to present data. Triangulation of data collected qualitatively with quantitative data was done and presented as direct quotes. Tests of Chi-Square were done at 95% CI and an error of precision of 0.05 to calculate inferential statistics showing variable associations. Ethical considerations were taken into account and informed consent acquired from participants. The study concludes that 40.6% of respondents utilized mobile maternal health services in Makueni County. The most common service sought was antenatal care. Distance from health facilities was the main reason for using mobile maternal health services. Majority of individual factors such as average family income (p=0.001), parity (p=0.019), type of pregnancy related complication experienced (p=0.027) and awareness (p=0.006) influenced use of mobile maternal health services. About 59.9% of respondents had a positive attitude towards mobile maternal health services and attitude (p=0.010) significantly affected mobile maternal health service use. Further, the study concludes that most health system factors including facility distance (p=0.001), source of information (p=0.012), waiting time (p=0.004), affordability (p=0.013) and experience with healthcare providers (p=0.023) played a key role in influencing utilization mobile maternal health services. These results would inform policy makers to craft interventions seeking to advance mobile maternal health services utilization. This would further avoid preventable complications thus improving maternal and health outcomes of children in the country.enThesis