| dc.description.abstract | Approximately 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries. Previous studies have
shown association between religious factors with maternal morbidity and mortality. However most
of these studies have been quantitatively resulting in limited explanations on religious beliefs and
practices that determine utilization of maternal health services. Whereas Kenya has reduced MMR
to 362 per 100,000 live births, Siaya County still has a MMR of 691 per 100,000 live births,
4+ANC visit at 60%, skilled birth attendance at 61%, PNC at 50% and contraceptive prevalence
rate at 62%, rates far below the threshold. Nomiya church has an apostolic healthcare system that
promotes utilization of alternative maternal health services. Qualitative studies are yet to give
explanations on how beliefs and practices affect utilization of maternal health services. Therefore,
this study explored how religious factors affect utilization of maternal health services by Nomiya
church faithful’s. Specifically, the study sought to find out health seeking practices, to examine
how religious beliefs affect utilization of maternal health service and lastly to find how religious
practices affect utilization of maternal health services by Nomiya Church faithful’s in Alego-
Usonga Sub-County. Andersen behavioral Model of healthcare utilization (1995) was used to show
how the population characteristics and health behavior affect utilization of maternal health
services. In this qualitative descriptive study design, data was collected to saturation from 22
women of reproductive age who were Nomiya church faithful’s. Informants were purposively
recruited using snowball sampling technique. Participants were interviewed using an in-depth
interview guide. The data gathered were supplemented by information from focus group discussion
with 6 community health volunteers and 7 key informants including a bishop of Nomiya church
and 6 health care workers who were purposively selected and interviewed. Interviews were audio
recorded. Data were transcribed, translated from ‘Dholuo’ into English and reviewed by a
qualitative research expert. Data were analyzed thematically. Deductive coding and categorizing
of themes was done. Transcripts were uploaded and analysis done using NVIVO Version 6.
Findings show that women delay to start ante-natal clinic because of fear of long waiting time for
test results and many re-visits demanded. Instead, they were attended to by ‘madha’ (church
ordained female birth attendant) who have skilled hands in massaging pregnant mothers and
conducting deliveries. Mothers in-law prefer women to deliver at home, avoid family planning
services with the church teachings asserting that FP initiatives lead to infertility and disgrace
women. The Apostolic health system prescribed seclusion that demands the keeping of the mother
and the child indoors for 33 to 66 days, with tough preaching against contraceptive use at the end
of seclusion. There is need for reorientation of skilled health providers in the delivery of maternal
health services, sensitization on skilled healthcare services in the community and to find contextual
meaning of the religious practices to eliminate the retrogressive practices | en_US |
