Determinants of Accessibility and Uptake of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Adolescent Mothers (10-19 Years) in Rachuonyo North Sub-County, Homa-Bay County, Kenya

Kenya has one of the highest maternal and child health mortality in Africa. Estimates developed by the UN inter-agency group for child mortality estimation indicate a 2024 child mortality rate of 41 per 1000 live births while maternal mortality is estimated at 530 per 100,000 live births. Rachuonyo North sub-county has one of the poorest maternal of 630/100,000 and child health indicators while the only measure available is the percentage of health facility based. The main objective of this study was to assess the determinants of accessibility and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescent mothers (15-19 years) in Rachuonyo north sub-county, Homa-Bay County. Specifically, the study established awareness, individual, social-economic and institutional factors influencing accessibility and uptake of SRHS among adolescent mothers in Rachuonyo North Sub-County. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design while multi-stage random sampling was used to select 422 respondents. Data collection tools included structured questionnaire and K.I.I which were pretested in Rachuonyo South sub-County. More than three quarters of the participants; 326 (78.7%) were aware of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) for adolescent mothers. Most; 302 (72.9%) of the participants observed that SRHS services for adolescent mothers were available in the nearby facilities. There was no significant association between highest level of education attained and awareness of SRHS for adolescent mothers (p=0.965). There was a significant association between availability of SRHS in nearby facility and utilization of SRHS services in the form of ANC attendance (p<0.0001). There was no significant association between socio-economic status in the form of employment and affordability of SRHS services (p=0.153).