title: Spatial autocorrelation in uptake of antenatal care and relationship to individual, household and village-level factors: results from a community-based survey of pregnant women in six districts in western Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The majority of maternal deaths, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths are concentrated in a few countries, many of which have weak health systems, poor access to health services, and low coverage of key health interventions. Early and consistent antenatal care (ANC) attendance could significantly reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite this, most Kenyan mothers initiate ANC care late in pregnancy and attend fewer than the recommended visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used survey data from 6,200 pregnant women across six districts in western Kenya to understand demand-side factors related to use of ANC. Bayesian multi-level models were developed to explore the relative importance of individual, household and village-level factors in relation to ANC use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is significant spatial autocorrelation of ANC attendance in three of the six districts and considerable heterogeneity in factors related to ANC use between districts. Working outside the home limited ANC attendance. Maternal age, the number of small children in the household, and ownership of livestock were important in some districts, but not all. Village proportions of pregnancy in women of child-bearing age was significantly correlated to ANC use in three of the six districts. Geographic distance to health facilities and the type of nearest facility was not correlated with ANC use. After incorporating individual, household and village-level covariates, no residual spatial autocorrelation remained in the outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ANC attendance was consistently low across all the districts, but factors related to poor attendance varied. This heterogeneity is expected for an outcome that is highly influenced by socio-cultural values and local context. Interventions to improve use of ANC must be tailored to local context and should include explicit approaches to reach women who work outside the home.
authors: School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, U,S,A. wpo@duke.edu.
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Prudhomme O'Meara
authors: Alyssa
authors: A
authors: Platt
authors: Violet
authors: V
authors: Naanyu
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Cole
authors: Samson
authors: S
authors: Ndege
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000208:ethnology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult