TRANSPORT-RELATED FACTORS AFFECTING UPTAKE OF ANTENATAL CARE SERVICES IN KAKAMEGA CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Proper uptake of antenatal care services is essential in ensuring decent pregnancy outcomes and reduced maternal and early childhood deaths in observance of the third Sustainable Development Goal. This study adopted a cross-sectional research design to probe the effect of distance, nature of roads and accessible means of transport on the uptake of antenatal care services in Kakamega Central Sub-County, Kakamega County, Kenya. Primary data were collected from mothers of reproductive ages from December 2022 through to January 2023. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression informed the study analyses. Inferential results indicated that women who took 31≤x≤60 minutes to access health facilities were more likely to uptake antenatal care services (aOR=7.661; ρ=0.042). Presence of mud roads (aOR=0.930; ρ=0.037) and human trekking (aOR=0.233; ρ=0.008) were both associated with lesser likelihoods of antenatal care service uptake. Targeted interventions on road improvement and maintenance should be embraced so as attract quicker transport service providers and enhance accessibility and uptake of antenatal care services.