PERCIEVED METHODS OF ENHANCING UTILIZATION OF SKILLED DELIVERY CARE SERVICES IN MUKUYUNI LOCATION, BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA

The study sought to establish perceived methods of enhancing utilization of skilled delivery care services in Mukuyuni location of Bungoma County in Kenya. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed in the study. The target population for the study were women of reproductive age residing in Mukuyuni location who had delivered within a five-year time frame and willing to respond unconditionally. The researcher used systematic random sampling to select the women to be interviewed from each of the sampled villages of the study area which had a study population of 2300. 300 respondents provided the information while 2 women refused to cooperate with the researcher and 25 of the sampled women were not available during the time of study. The collected data was coded and entered into SPSS software package for processing and analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data was presented using tables, charts and graphs where appropriate. 148 (49.3%) of the respondents had skilled delivery in a health facility while 152(50.7%) had unskilled delivery. Among those women who had unskilled delivery, 45 (15%) were assisted by TBAs, 94 (31.3%) by relatives and 13 (4.3%) gave birth by the roadside after intensified contractions. Suggestions that were given by respondents on how to enhance utilization of skilled delivery care services among expectant women comprised of building more health facilities increasing essential equipment in health facilities training health professionals to provide holistic and friendly services educating the community on importance of skilled delivery services giving incentives to the mothers when they deliver in the health facility providing emergency vehicles to ferry expectant women to health facilities for delivery and improvement of road infrastructure for better and faster access to health facilities. The study concluded thatthe current acceptance of utilization of skilled delivery care services in the area of study is still below average and therefore the researcher recommends that more health facilities should be constructed within the study area to reduce the distance from peoples homes to the health facility, health professionals should change their attitude and handle pregnant mothers in a friendly manner and lastly public health department should organize more community outreaches to mobilize and sensitize communities on importance of skilled attendance at delivery.