Objectives:The purpose of this study was to examine rural women’s access to
maternal health information and its impact on levels of skilled healthcare utilization.
Method:A qualitative study involving twenty five (25) pregnant women,five (5)
Skilled healthcare providers and five (5) Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) was
conducted in Chamwino District in Dodoma Region, Tanzania for a period of six
months. Due to time and resource limitation the researcher selected two (2) of the 32
wards in the district where the problem of maternal mortality and non-utilization of
skilled healthcare was most prominent. The two selected wards were Msanga and
Buigiri wards.
The researcher used The Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour to
develop interview questions and focus group guides as well as the interpretation of the
findings. The researcher examined how variable factors e.g. maternal health literacy,
individual perceptions, local knowledge and care provider-related factors affect
pregnant women’s health behaviours and utilization of skilled maternal services. The
Data was analysed thematically using the 6-stage guide to thematic data analysis with
the help of NVIvo Software.
Results:The inadequate conditions of the health facilities and the poor working
conditions of the care providers affected the provision of quality of maternal services
and health information to pregnant women in the study area. The limited access to
skilled maternal health information from skilled healthcare providers and lack of
alternative sources of reliable health information led pregnant women to seek health
information from their Mothers-in-laws, TBAs and other women in the
society.However, there was a shortcoming of information inaccuracy as their health
advice was not based on previous expert advice but rather on the personal opinion and
attitude towards skilled maternal services.