Factors influencing Utilization of Emegency Obstetrick Care:

Abstract

The study was to assess the factors influencing utilization of emergency obstetric care, a case study of Terkeka county-Central Equatoria ,South Sudan. General objective was to determine the factors influencing utilization of basic emergency obstetric care in the health facilities of Terkeka County –central Equatoria and Specific objectives were: to establish the individual factors influencing utilization of basic emergency obstetric care in Terkeka County,to establish socio economic factors influencing utilization of basic emergency obstetric care in Terkeka County and to determine the health system related factors influencing utilization of basic emergency obstetric care in Terkeka County. Methodology A cross sectional study design was used and employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection in which 384 respondents were interviewed. Results Factors such as age ( P-valuehj=0.004); marital status (P-value =0.010),duration of the pregnancy ( P-value=0.001),average monthly income (P-value =0.020); affordability of transport to the health facility ( P-value = 0.016); affordability to deliver in a health facility (P-value = 0.039) and male partner support (P-value =0.011),distance to the nearest health facility (P- value=0.008) and access to obstetric care services at the health facility (P-value = 0.034) showed statistically significant association with the utilization of basic emergency obstetric services. Level of education, religion, being pregnant, occupation, cultural support for utilization of obstetric care, availability of health workers and obstetric services, attitude of health workers and average waiting time at the health facility did indicate any statistically significant association with the utilization of basic emergency obstetric care services. Conclusions and Recommendations: The key significant factors that influenced utilization of basic emergency care Factors such as age, marital status, and duration of the pregnancy, average monthly income, and affordability of transport to the health facility, affordability to deliver in a health facility, and male partner support, distance to the nearest health facility and access to obstetric care services at the health facility. It was recommended that Government of South Sudan formulate and implement public health policies aimed at reducing maternal morbidities and mortalities in South Sudan that should include strategies that would improve utilization of basic emergency care in health facilities.