Provision of antenatal care services and level of utilization at migosi sub-county hospital, Western Kenya

Effective utilization of ANC services presents an opportunity to revert maternal deaths of 7,700 and 150,000 women each year from perinatal outcomes and other birth complications in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa respectively. For effective utilization of ANC services, there is a need to assess the supply and demand of services. To assess this, a descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted on 285 post-natal mothers at Migosi sub-County Hospital in Kisumu County, Kenya. Purposive sampling technique was used and data was collected using structured questionnaires. Our findings show that a total of 225 (78.95%), mothers completed the recommended four and above ANC visits and confirmed receipt of 90% of the ANC services provided during the visits. However, 60 (21.05%) did not complete the 4 ANC visits due to various reasons, of which personal factors 32 (53.3%) are pointed out as the main reason. Among the services offered; emergency obstetric care 108 (37.9%), PMTCT 133 (46.7%), STI screening and condom use 138 (48.4%) recorded below 50% of services received by mothers during their ANC visits. The study provides critical information on the interplay between the provision and utilization of ANC services for better health outcomes of the mother and baby. In addition, it provides an insight on the reasons that impede full utilization of ANC services especially to the health care providers that includes the ministry of health and other stakeholders.