The contribution of interactive communication to the improvement of maternal healthcare services in Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

The contribution of interactive communication in promoting maternal healthcare services are missing in the county's healthcare literature thus leading to higher levels of morbidity and mortality in Migori County. The study therefore achieved the following objectives: it established the influence of face-to-face interactions in promoting maternal health services in Migori County, and it also investigated the role of support group discussion in the uptake of maternal health services in Migori County. The health belief model and the elaboration likelihood models were used to underpin the study. A cross-sectional research design was used with a mixed research method approach. The study targeted a sample size of three hundred and ninety-eight (398) respondents. Sampling techniques used included cluster, systematic random sampling and purposive sampling. The study collected both primary and secondary data. The research instruments used in this study to collect data were questionnaires and key informant interview schedules. The results were done with the help of Microsoft Office Excel and the Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v25). The results were presented using a combination of narrative explanations, tables, and graphs. The validity and reliability of the instrument were determined through a pre-test and expert opinion to determine whether it addressed all relevant aspects of the variables. The study findings indicate that face-to-face interaction has the most significant influence on promoting maternal healthcare services in Migori County. The study recommends that the county government of Migori should employ more health workers to facilitate support for the use of face-to-face communication.