Utilization of maternal health-care services among women in bidibidi refugee camp, North Westhern Uganda, Yumbe district.

Abstract

Introduction: Utilization of antenatal care and post-natal care among mother in Bidibidi refugees settlement in Yumbe district, Uganda is still low despite significant efforts to maximize their services. Objective: To assess the factors influencing the utilization of Maternal Health Care Services among women age 15-45 years in Bidi bidi refugee‟s camp. Methods: A cross sectional study employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques of the data collection was carried out from March to May 2018. Quantitative data were collected on antenatal care and post-natal utilization and its predictors from 379 mothers. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with antenatal care utilization. Qualitatively data were collected through 9 key informant interviews. Data were gathered on health facility child delivery and its determinants. Qualitative data were analyzed using latent content analysis. Code were identified and grouped into themes. Results: A quarter of the mothers; 25.3% (96/379) had utilized ANC services at least four times. Factors associated with antenatal care utilization were; mothers who thought ANC services were offered monthly AOR 0.04 95%Cl (0.16-0.10); mothers who did not know when ANC services were offered AOR 0.33 95%Cl (0.13-0.84) and inadequate knowledge on ANC importance AOR 0.41 95%Cl (0.18-0.97). Post-natal care utilization was also low 46.7%. Qualitative results showed that long distance to the health facility was the key barrier to health facility utilization for child delivery. Conclusion: Utilization of ANC and post-natal services were low among women in the refugee camp. There is need to address challenges of long distance to the health facility and increase awareness on the importance of these services so as to further increase uptake of antenatal and post-natal care services.