Perceived Socio-Cultural and Economic Factors Influencing Maternal and Child Health: Qualitative Insights from Mwingi District, Kenya.

ABSTRACT

Background: Reducing child mortality rates and improving maternal health are Millennium Develop-ment Goals (MDGs) that Kenya is striving to realize by next year, 2015. One way of achieving the MDGs is through identifying and addressing the factors influencing Maternal and Child Health (MCH). The aim of this study was to explore expert opinions on social –cultural and economic factors influencing MCH in Mwingi District, Kitui County in Kenya. Methods: This was a qualitative study which was conducted as part of a larger mixed method study. Data was conducted using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews. Three FGDs were conducted with each having 8 respondents (N=24) and nine in-depth interviews were conducted with 9 key informants (N=9). Purposive sampling was used to sample participants in the FGDs while maximum variation sampling was used to select key informants for the in-depth interviews. Framework analysis and quasi statistics were used in data analysis. NVivo software was used in data man-agement and analysis. Results: Social-cultural and economic factors influencing MCH in the district include; 1.Various cultural and religious factors, 2. Various deficiencies in health care service provision, 3. Unreliable transport infrastructure, 4. Poverty, 5. Illiteracy, and 7. Food insecurity. Conclusion and recommendations: Efforts to improve MCH in the district should address cultural and religious influence on MCH, address deficiencies in health care service delivery, alleviate poverty, improve transport infrastructure, reduce illit-eracy, and improve food security.