Access and utilization of maternal healthcare services among pregnant women in Yei Sub County, Central Equatoria State South Sudan: a case study of Jigomoni and Aleru Health Centres

Abstract

The study set out to assess accessibility and utilization of maternal and child healthcare services in Sub County, central equatorial province South Sudan. This was in light of the view that despite massive investment of resources and attention to the different health facilities in the country by the government, there seems little progress registered in terms of reduction of maternal and child mortality rates. The study specifically sought to establish the nature of maternal and child health care services, explore factors that influence access and utilization of healthcare services and propose institutional level strategies to improve healthcare service delivery in Yei sub county. The study adopted descriptive research design so as to capture the historical and prevailing circumstance on the ground. To avoid unrealistic results, both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Qualitative data was collected using in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, and non-participant observation since it involves respondents‟ experiences, beliefs and attitudes while quantitative method was used to establish percentage of respondents by sex, name and others. Data was entered into the SPSS (version 23) computer programme and analyzed with descriptive statistical tools. The study established that are quite a number of MHCS offered to women by various health providers these include; Antenatal care, family planning services and immunization of their children among others. There is high level of awareness among women for the different MHCS provided in the different facilities but this is not matched with access and utilization due to long distances that have to be travelled by women to access care, the backward cultural norms and orientations which deter women from using facilities for fear of shame and loss of dignity, hostility displayed by health workers towards patients which scare off many women hence resort to use TBAs, the high transport costs which affect women especially in remote areas however, pregnancies perceived as risky make women by all means to seek care from experienced and trained physicians. It was recommended that Ministry of Health in South Sudan should increase the number of Community Health Centers in south Sudan for easy accessibility, adequate staff especially nurses should be appointed at the existing Health centers to reduce on the long waiting time, improve physical infrastructure, essential drugs supplies, equipment to improve the extremely difficult working conditions for staff and enable providers to offer quality care, education programmes to women of Christian, Islamic and traditionalist beliefs on the importance of Maternal Health and Childcare Service utilization which can be routed through religious and community leaders.