Level of Knowledge on Risks Associated with Home Deliveries among Women of Reproductive Age after Formal Antenatal Care Visits in Narok South Sub- County

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge on risks associated with home deliveries among women of reproductive age after formal antenatal care visits in Narok Sub County. Methodology: The study adapted a descriptive, cross sectional study design which focused on all women of reproductive age who delivered at home after antenatal hospital care visits in the last 24 months. The research was completed in Narok South Sub County, Narok County in Kenya. The target populace included all women with children below two years of age who gave birth at home yet attended antenatal care visits in a health facility in Narok North Sub-County. The study population included all women of reproductive age which were in the age bracket of 15 and 49 years from Narok south sub-county in Narok County. The study adapted two sampling techniques (purposive sampling and simple random sampling) first, purposive sampling was used to obtain women who have had delivered in the last 24 months and also key informants like TBAs and community elders. A sample of 30% of the targeted population was selected; A semi structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data. The study utilized primary data only. The primary data was collected through semi structured questionnaires by visiting households with women of reproductive age who gave birth in the last 24 months in a non- hospital set up. Data was analyzed using excel and statistical package for social sciences SPSS version 22.0. Findings: The study found that during antenatal care visits women are taught on how to plan for births and have back-up plans, many do not have any backup plans for life-threatening occurrences when giving birth. The study concluded that, young women as compared to older women are more involved in non-hospital delivery due to unplanned births. Also, those women who had attended antenatal care visits were more knowledgeable about the risk factors of delivering at home. In addition, regardless of the government effort to provide free maternal services in Kenya, stable source of income, formal education with the right knowledge about reproductive health and geographical access, are the determinants of place of delivery among women in rural parts of Narok County. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: County Education officers in liaison with social development officers should work to promote adult formal education to improve literacy levels, which will go a long way in influencing reproductive health decisions.