Publication:

Effect of traditional birth attendants-led health education intervention on utilization of skilled birth care in West Pokot County, Kenya

Background Globally, between 2000 and 2017, maternal mortality ratio declined by 38%, with global lifetime risk of maternal death falling from 1 in 73 to 1 in 180, respectively. In West Pokot County, Kenya, over half of deliveries are managed by traditional birth attendants. The study investigated the effect of TBAs-led intervention on utilization of skilled birth care in this County.

Methods The study employed a prospective experimental design. In the intervention arm, TBAs were recruited and trained on SBC. They were assigned expectant mothers and followed until they delivered their babies. Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between variables. Binary logistic regression was used to compare utilization of SBC between the intervention and control sites.

Results Majority of mothers (95%) in the intervention arm of the study went for TBAs’ services , and 79.5% of those in the control did the same. Most mothers in the intervention (81.4%) delivered in health care facility compared to 58.2% in the control (χ2=21.256, p<0.001). There was a significant difference in the odds of mothers utilizing SBC between intervention and control groups. Those in the intervention group were almost 3 times more likely to utilize SBC than those in the control group (UOR; 95% CI: 3.137; 1.909-5.155).

Conclusions TBAs-led intervention increased utilization of SBC among mothers in the intervention compared to those in the control arm who utilized available ministry of health’s standard care.