Access and Utilization of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Services in the Fragile Context of Somalia

Abstract

Background: The humanitarian situation in Somalia is characterized by unstable government, insecurity, fragility, and limited investments in funding essential public services and maternal newborn and health services are not spared. The health system in Somalia remained under-resourced to meet the urgent lifesaving, essential, and preventive health services. This study sought to assess the access and utilization of maternal and newborn child health services in Somalia. Methodology: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. Descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis was conducted to establish the performance of indicators and relationships. The study targeted mothers of children 0-59 months. Results: The results show a low (13.1%) attendance of focused (4th visit) antenatal care among the mothers. 23.3% of the mothers from Somaliland attended at least three antenatal care visits, while the rest of the states only achieved less than 10%. At least 41.5% of the deliveries occurred at the health facility. Skilled attendants assisted 42.7% of the deliveries. No significant difference was observed in the number of women having an extra meal during pregnancy or delivery at the health facility or in predicting the number of ANC visits. Nonetheless, 43.2% of the infants in Somalia had not been exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. The results equally demonstrated poor nutritional index with only 38.4% of the pregnant women having an extra meal during pregnancy. In Somalia, early health care seeking for common childhood illnesses is still low, with Respiratory Tract infections (RTIs) at 40%, malaria at 56.6%, and diarrhea at 63.4%. Conclusion and Recommendations: There is a need for deliberate efforts to improve low-performing indicators and hence improve the survival of mothers and children.