Local Governance and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Rural Kenya

Author(s):  
Alfred Akwala

Poor communication approaches in addition to other socio-economic factors in rural areas are the greatest contributors to infant and maternal mortality. Estimates show that sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia bear the greatest burden of maternal mortality. Traditional media has been seen to be ineffective in dissemination of maternal-child health information. However information communication technology (ICT) provides a variety of media platforms that can be appropriated in disseminating maternal-child health knowledge. The objective of this paper was to investigate how ICT can be appropriated in rural areas for campaigns in maternal-child health. One major issue emerged in this paper; that appropriate interactive and participatory communication through ICT influences the dissemination of maternal-child health knowledge among the rural population and thus influences utilisation of skilled maternal-child health services.

2000 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
ISAAC ADDAI

This study uses data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) of 1993 to examine factors determining the use of maternal–child health (MCH) services in rural Ghana. The MCH services under study are: (1) use of a doctor for prenatal care; (2) soliciting four or more antenatal check-ups; (3) place of delivery; (4) participation in family planning. Bivariate and multivariate techniques are employed in the analyses. The analyses reveal that the use of MCH services tends to be shaped mostly by level of education, religious background and region of residence, and partially by ethnicity and occupation. The implications of these results are discussed.


Author(s):  
Alfred Okoth Akwala

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every minute, at least one woman dies from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, translating to about 585,000 women losing their lives each year due to child-birth-related complications. Modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) have a pivotal role to play in tackling health-related problems by empowering individuals and equipping decision makers with timely information about critical health issues. This study aimed to evaluate the appropriation of mobile phone applications in enhancing maternal-child health knowledge in rural areas in Kenya with special focus on Busia County. Findings indicated that mobile phone dissemination of maternal health knowledge has a possibility of accelerating access and utilisation of skilled facility services. Therefore, emerging technologies can offer real opportunities to communities by enabling them get reliable and timely information on maternal-child health issues.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. e0225104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin M. Dugdale ◽  
Tamsin K. Phillips ◽  
Landon Myer ◽  
Emily P. Hyle ◽  
Kirsty Brittain ◽  
...  

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles W. Warren ◽  
Richard S. Monteith ◽  
J. Timothy Johnson ◽  
Roberto Santiso ◽  
Federico Guerra ◽  
...  

SummaryThis paper presents data from two recent maternal–child health (MCH) and family planning surveys in Guatemala and Panama and examines the extent to which the use of contraception is influenced by the use of MCH services as compared with the influence of an increase in parity. The findings suggest that utilization of MCH services and parity independently are associated with a woman's decision to use contraception. The study also found two groups that appear to be particularly in need of both MCH and family planning services: high parity women and Indians. In both Guatemala and Panama, improved health care services for these two groups should be a priority.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Kalyan Sundar Som

Equitable provision of health care services and full coverage of health accessibility are the major challenge for developing countries to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG 3 and 10). A geographical information system (GIS) is an effective platform for knowing how much area and population are covered by the existing MCH (maternal child health) services network for better health care planning. The aim of this study is to assess the geographical accessibility of MCH services and how they give impact on infant mortality and fertility in Sagar District. To uncover the answer, this study used buffer zone analysis, service area analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The findings highlight lower accessibility has prevailed in the study area in which 41 percent village was underserved by the buffer zone analysis while 62 percent was underserved by the service area analysis out of 2075 village. It is diversified from higher accessibility in north western Khurai plain region to lower in the central upland exclude the Sagar community development Block. We also find that health accessibility can explain 53 percent of the infant mortality of the district and IMR may control 33 percent of the children ever born in the district.The service area and buffer mapped output may have policy implication for the future establishment of the health center and road network. This policy can be helpful for reducing infant mortality and fertility through this they achieved SDG target.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 170-182
Author(s):  
Yunisa Astiarani ◽  
◽  
Maybelline . ◽  
Giovani I.G. Putri ◽  
Nur Fitriah ◽  
...  

The study examines the association of unwanted pregnancy and the utilization of maternal-child health services, and the adverse health outcomes in urban and rural settings. The study employed data from the 2017 Indonesia Demographic Health Survey that included 13,806 live births; the mothers were not pregnant at the interview and were married participants. The multiple logistic regression analysis concerning residential areas was conducted separately to compare outcomes related to unwanted pregnancy. Non-standard antenatal care visits (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2–2.4), prolonged labor (AOR=1.6; 95% CI=1.2–2.1), the absence of child’s birth documentation (AOR=1.3; 95% CI=1.0–1.6), and smaller baby size (AOR=1.2; 95% CI=1.0–1.4) are associated with unwanted pregnancy in urban areas. In rural settings, on the other hand, unwanted pregnancy is associated with non-standard antenatal care (AOR=1.6; 95% CI=1.2–2.2). Therefore, in Indonesia, urban areas lack maternal-child healthcare services utilization and higher adverse events due to unwanted pregnancy than rural areas. An adjustment approach is required in maternal-child health-related programs in both areas, particularly for women living in urban.


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