Kiango, Prisca M.
Description:
This study assessed the factors affecting utilisation of maternal health care services among pregnant mother intends to establish reasons why mothers decide to deliver in the different sites. The objectives of this study were: determining social – demographic factors affecting utilization of maternal health care services among pregnant mothers, ascertaining ways through which health systems affect utilisation of maternal health care services among pregnant mothers and determining the cultural beliefs and practices that have an effect on utilisation of maternal health care services among pregnant mothers.
The study employed community cross-sectional design. It employed a total of 110 respondents of this study. Data for this study were collected through questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion. The quantitative data were analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) where as the qualitative data were analysed content analysis.
The findings of the study revealed that maternal health services utilisation is highly affected by socio-demographic factors such as occupation, age, marital status and level of education. The distance from residential home to the facility also affect the utilisation of MHCS. The healthy system such as poor customer service of the facility human resource, ability of the women to pay for the MHCS also bar them to utilise the service. It was also realised that, the cultural beliefs and practices such fear for operation, trust on the TBA, power of confidence, etc. Affect the utilisation of MHCS.
It is recommended that, the unmarried, uneducated, peasant and aged 15-20 years old women should be sensitized on full utilising the service for the benefits and future generation reproduced by such women.Further study is recommended in more than 3 wards and in other districts in Tanzania with large sample. The further study is also suggested to be done in urban areas as this one was done in the rural areas.