Utilization of child health services in Kyanamira Subcounty Kabale

Background:In Uganda, Infant mortality rate and child mortality rate still remain high at 54 and 38 per 1,000 live births respectively. Child health services are interventions put in place to cub down morbidity and mortality in children. The immunization coverage in Uganda remains low at 52% Study objective: To determine the proportion of children aged 6 months and 5 years utilizing child health services and to establish the factors affecting utilization in Kyanamira sub county. Method: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted in July,2014 in Kyanamira , Kabale . Simple random sampling was used to select 3 parishes from where 403 individual participants were purposively sampled. Data were entered using EPI-data and analyzed by SPSS.About 77.7% of the children were utilizing the child health services. Uptake of immunization services was over 90%,vitamin A supplements was at 69% and deworming at 63.8% Conclusion:Uptake of services is still low. Caretaker religion, education, house hold income, knowledge and attitudes of the caretaker, health education and how they are treated by health workers were the main predictors of utilization of child health services.

Autorentext

Nshabohurira Agatha is a Public Health specialist with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science. She is currently working as Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal and Child Health in Mbarara district ,South western UgandaShe is married to Mr Nelson Turinawe and together are blessed with three children, Jeremy, Joel and Nicole.