Publication:

Utilization of child spacing services and associated factors among riverine Somali communities in Mandera County, Kenya

Background Child spacing services are a range of healthcare and counselling services supporting one in making informed decisions about timed and spaced children. According to Kassim and Ndumbaro found that reproductive health (RH) right enable partners to decide to have or not to have children, number of children and when to do so.

Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design study conducted in Mandera County between July 2024 to December 2024. SPPS version 25 was used for statistical analysis. Chi-square test was used to assess relationships between variables at a level of confidence of 95%.

Results Results showed that the age of participants showed a statistically significant association with the uptake of child spacing services (p=0.014). Educational level attained was statistically linked with uptake of child spacing services (p=0.036), occupation (p=0.006), and number of children (p=0.028). However, the nuptial status did not show a significantly statistical linkage with the uptake of child spacing services (p=0.177). There was statistical relationship between knowledge level with the uptake of child spacing services (χ2=6.476, p=0.039). Religion, decision maker, threats by partner and stigma were social cultural factors that significantly affected uptake of child spacing services with a p<0.05.

Conclusions The study further concludes that socio-demographic factors including age, educational level, occupation and number of children were significantly associated with uptake of child spacing services. Religion, decision makers, threats from partner and stigma were associated factors that influence uptake of child spacing services.