Socio-demographic and facility-based determinants of perceived quality of nutrition Services of Pregnant and Lactating Adolescent Girls in Trans-Mara east Sub-County, Narok County, Kenya

BACKGROUND: It has been established that use and utilization of nutrition services among adolescents are highly linked to availability, access, cost and quality of care. The main objective of this study was to assess the socio-demographic and facility-based factors as proxies to access to perceived quality of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive services among adolescents in Trans-Mara East Sub-County, Narok County. METHODS: The study adopted a cross-sectional approach that employed mixed methods on 291 households. Probability proportionate to size sampling techniques using cluster and simple random methods were used to practically access adolescents who are pregnant or lactating. Data were collected using questionnaires, in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussion. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively using frequencies and inferentially using odds ratio and Z-test. Framework analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data. RESULTS: A nutritionist was more likely to increase overall utilization (considered as a proxy index to access quality nutrition-sensitive and -specific services) by 3.18 times (OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.50–6.60, P = 0.002) and nurses 2.7 times (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.40–5.30, P = 0.005). Generally, 80.7 and 69.4% attached positive value to environmental and basic personal hygiene, respectively, as being areas of nutrition-sensitive service delivery with a significant number higher than expected frequency of 50% (P < 0.05). An assessment of facility networks isolated only public health center as the key determinant of overall utilization. Public health centers among other health facilities were more likely to increase utilization (OR = 4.52, 95% CI = 1.50–13.50, P = 0.007). Assessment of distance to facility identified both distances as key determinants of overall utilization as those resident < 1 km from the facilities were 2.4 times more likely to utilize the facilities (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.20–4.80, P = 0.012) while those resident 1-5 km were 5.3 times more likely to utilize the services (OR = 5.34, 95% CI = 1.90–15.10, P = 0.002) relative to longer distances. Finally, on methods of conveying messages, those who received messages through Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials were 7.8 times (OR = 7.85, 95% CI = 1.50–40.50, P = 0.014) and through face-to-face were 3.9 times more likely to utilize the services (OR = 3.91, 95% CI = 1.30–11.90, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Critical facility-based determinants of utilization of nutrition services include personnel (mainly nutritionist and nurse), distance and IEC materials.