Abstract:
Introduction: The family health package is part of Health Extension Program comprises
evidence based interventions selected to address the major maternal, neonatal and child health
problems and delivered at health facility and community levels. This package mainly facilitates
utilization of the maternal, neonatal and child health service. However, there is limited study
done indicating utilization of family health service of HEP package in pastoralist areas especially
in Ethiopian Somali Regional State.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess family health service utilization and
associated factors of health extension program among mothers delivered in the last one year.
Methods and materials: The study was conducted in Afdem Woreda Ethiopia Somali Regional
State from February 18 to March 6/2017. A Cross-sectional study design was applied to sample
size of 421 mothers. The mothers were selected by systematic random sampling. Pre tested
structured questionnaire was used to collect data from study participants. The collected data was
entered to EPIDATA version 3.02 and then export to spss20 and analyzed it. Result of the study
participants were described and presented using frequency, percentage, summary measure, table
and graph. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model ware used to identify factors
associated with Family Health Service utilization.
Result: Response rate of this study were 414(98.3%). Out of interviewed mothers 25.1% with
95% CI (21.1%-29.5%) of the respondents practiced at least three family health service
components. Urban place of residence(AOR=3.8, 95%CI: 1.5-9.9 at P=0.006), secondary and above
education status(AOR=4.6, 95%CI: 1.5-18.9 at p=0.035), mother visited by HEWs(AOR=3.1,
95%CI: 1.6-6.3 with p=0.001), mothers with satisfactory knowledge on family health service
package (AOR=5.8, 95%CI: 2.8-10.1 at p<0.0001) and mothers participation in HEP activities
(AOR=2.8, 95%CI: 1.5-5.4 at p=0.002) were significant factors associated with utilization of
family health service.
Conclusion: The proportion of family health service utilization was low. Mothers visited by
HEWs & participated in HEP were more likely to utilize family health service. Therefore, HEWs
should visit to all mothers and inform to participation in HEP activities.
