Browsing by Author "NAMUTEBI ZUENA ASHLIEGH"

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    EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON UPTAKE OF ANTENATAL CARE SERVICES BY PREGNANT MOTHERS IN BUKEDEA HEALTH CENTER IV, BUKEDEA DISTRICT
    (UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, 2025-06-10) NAMUTEBI ZUENA ASHLIEGH
    The study aimed at assessing the effect of the Covid -19 pandemic and underlying factors affecting uptake of ANC services by pregnant women at Bukedea Health Center IV, Bukedea District. Study objectives included: to examine the influence of Covid -19 on uptake of ANC services among pregnant mothers during the Covid -19 pandemic; to assess the influence of government initiatives on uptake of ANC services among pregnant mothers during the Covid -19 pandemic; and to examine the perceived quality of health care on uptake of ANC services among pregnant women during the Covid -19 pandemic. A cross-sectional analytical research design was employed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The sample comprised of 120 pregnant women accessing ANC, ten (10) ANC health practitioners at Bukedea Health Center IV and six (6) district health stakeholders (comprising 1District Health Officer, 1Chief Administrative Officer, 1Chairperson LC V, 2District Health Inspectors and 1RDC). Simple random selection of the pregnant women and purposive sampling of the rest of the respondents (listed above) were carried out. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed through the SPSS and thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Study findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between Covid-19 pandemic and uptake of ANC services among pregnant women in Bukedea Health Centre IV ((Adjusted R square =0.6851). This implies that during Covid-19 pandemic, fear of contracting Covid-19; travel restrictions; the increased transport prices; and closure of ANC clinic limited pregnant women uptake to ANC services to the health facility. The findings also revealed that there was a significant relationship between government initiatives and uptake of ANC services among pregnant mothers during the Covid -19 pandemic in Bukedea Health Centre IV (Adjusted R squared =.203). This implies that ensuring adherence to government initiatives would lead to improvement in uptake of ANC services among pregnant mothers during the Covid -19 pandemic in Bukedea Health Centre IV. In other words, the existing institutional and legal framework, political will, government budget allocation, donor funding and stakeholder collaboration has an influence on uptake of ANC services among pregnant mothers. The findings further revealed that there is a significant relationship between perceived quality of health care and uptake of ANC services among pregnant mothers during the Covid -19 pandemic in Bukedea Health Centre IV (Adjusted R square = .464). This implies that in perceived quality of health care, attitude of health workers, time spent or long queues, the structure of the health facility, existence of women departments at the health facilities and payment for health care provided in health facilities influence pregnant women uptake of ANC services in health facility. Basing on the above findings, it is concluded that there is significant relationship between the Covid -19 pandemic, its underlying factors, and the uptake of ANC services by pregnant women at Bukedea Health Center IV. The study recommended that the government of Uganda to allow ANC outreach services so as to reach to the pregnant women who cannot access health facility during Covid-19 pandemic. More funding by the government and other development partners should focus on enhance outreach ANC services. The government to recruit more health workers, provide free mosquito nets and provide home-based health c