Abstract

Objective: This study set out to compare the antenatal health and demographic factors as well as the pregnancy and delivery outcomes in women with disability and those without disability in Kakamega, Kenya.

Design: A population-based prospective case control study.

Setting: The study was done in 12 Sub County in Kakamega County.

Sample: The study used a multistage probability sampling design to identify the sub counties that would be case and control groups and purposeful and snow balling sampling technique to identify the pregnant women living with disability who in turn identified an able-bodied pregnant woman that she is accessible to (n=117).

Analysis: Data was analyzed through descriptive characteristic and chi-square tests of significance.

Main outcome measures: Health and socio-demography, issues of reproductive health and issues of access, safety and comfort with regards to antenatal care.

Result: A higher proportion of women with disability had spouses (57% vs. 100%), were of the age bracket 25-29 years (30.1% vs. 12.5%) and had primary education (53.8% vs. 75%) compared with women without disability, and pregnancy in women with disability was not planned (68.8% vs. 25%). Women with disability had experienced major maternal health problems (54.8% vs. 37.5%), attended antenatal clinic in their current pregnancy (69.9% vs. 91.7%) and had visited the antenatal clinic only once during current pregnancy (21.5% vs. 12.5%). Chi square tests showed that there was significant relationships between marital status χ2 (2, N=117)2.578, p=0.001, education χ2 (2, N=117) =3.912, p=0.097 and income χ2 (2, N=117)=7.404, p=0.039 with the status of disability.

Conclusion: Pregnant women with disability should be considered a risk group suggesting that better tailored pre- and intrapartum care and support are needed for these women because of low level of education, distorted family and longer time taken to access health facility.

Keywords: Disability; Maternity care; Pregnancy; Birth; Maternity survey