Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas1, Oluwasola Banke-Thomas2, Mwikali Kivuvani3, Charles Anawo Ameh4. 1. Centre for Reproductive Health Research and Innovation, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; McCain Institute for International Leadership, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States; Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: aduragbemi.banke-thomas@lstmed.ac.uk. 2. South-West Inter-Disciplinary Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States. Electronic address: oluwasola.banke-thomas@asu.edu. 3. Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. Electronic address: mwikali@srhralliance.or.ke. 4. Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: charles.ameh@lstmed.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Kenya has one of the highest adolescent fertility rates in East-Africa, estimated at 106 births per 1000 females aged 15-19years. In addition to promoting safe sexual behaviour, utilisation of maternal health services (MHS) is essential to prevent poor outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. To ensure optimum planning, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, this study assesses the current service utilisation patterns of Kenyan adolescent mothers and the factors that affect this utilisation. METHODS: Using data from the recently published 2014 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, we collected demographic and utilisation data of all three MHSs (antenatal care (ANC), skilled birth attendance (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC)) of adolescent mothers aged 15-19years. We then conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses to test associations between selected demographic and service utilisation variables. RESULTS: Our findings showed that half of Kenyan adolescent mothers have had their first birth by the age of 16. MHS utilisation rates amongst Kenyan adolescent mothers were 93%, 65%, 92% for ANC, SBA and PNC respectively. Mother's education, religion, ethnicity, place of residence, wealth quintile, mass media exposure, and geographical region were significant predictors for both ANC and SBA utilisation. Education level of partner was significant for ANC utilisation while parity was significant for both SBA and PNC. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent MHS utilisation is not optimum in Kenya. More work that includes affordable care provision, cultural re-orientation, targeted mass-media campaigns and male involvement in care need to be done with emphasis on the most disadvantaged areas.
BACKGROUND: Kenya has one of the highest adolescent fertility rates in East-Africa, estimated at 106 births per 1000 females aged 15-19years. In addition to promoting safe sexual behaviour, utilisation of maternal health services (MHS) is essential to prevent poor outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. To ensure optimum planning, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, this study assesses the current service utilisation patterns of Kenyan adolescent mothers and the factors that affect this utilisation. METHODS: Using data from the recently published 2014 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, we collected demographic and utilisation data of all three MHSs (antenatal care (ANC), skilled birth attendance (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC)) of adolescent mothers aged 15-19years. We then conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses to test associations between selected demographic and service utilisation variables. RESULTS: Our findings showed that half of Kenyan adolescent mothers have had their first birth by the age of 16. MHS utilisation rates amongst Kenyan adolescent mothers were 93%, 65%, 92% for ANC, SBA and PNC respectively. Mother's education, religion, ethnicity, place of residence, wealth quintile, mass media exposure, and geographical region were significant predictors for both ANC and SBA utilisation. Education level of partner was significant for ANC utilisation while parity was significant for both SBA and PNC. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent MHS utilisation is not optimum in Kenya. More work that includes affordable care provision, cultural re-orientation, targeted mass-media campaigns and male involvement in care need to be done with emphasis on the most disadvantaged areas.
Authors: Emma Roney; Christopher Morgan; Daniel Gatungu; Peter Mwaura; Humphrey Mwambeo; Alice Natecho; Liz Comrie-Thomson; Jesse N Gitaka Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-05-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Meghan Bruce Kumar; Jason J Madan; Peter Auguste; Miriam Taegtmeyer; Lilian Otiso; Christian B Ochieng; Nelly Muturi; Elizabeth Mgamb; Edwine Barasa Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2021-03