Background: Improving maternal health by three quarters is the fifth millennium development goal that is set to be achieved through the provision of skilled attendance during delivery. However, the proportion of Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) is generally poor in most developing countries, including Kenya with an estimate of 43%. This study aimed at determining the factors associated with the utilization of SBA among women 18 to 49 years of age, who had delivered within the last 12 months.

Methods: This study was a population based cross sectional study conducted in Bamba division. It used a structured questionnaire where random selection of households was done. Logistic regression of multiple factors was done to identify the determinants of SBA.

Results: A total of 286 women participated in the survey and 47.2% of them sought skilled care in the health facilities while 52.8% delivered at home under unskilled care. The questionnaire identified factors such as distance (OR=73.195, 95% CI=5.993-873.936), pregnancy problems (OR=6.389, 95% CI=2.057-19.844), mosquito net use (OR=6.389, 95% CI=2.057-19.844) and prolonged labour (OR=110.671, 95% CI=24.618-497.523) to be highly significant with SBA.

Conclusions: This study confirmed that the proportion of women seeking SBA was still low. Long distance to the health facility was the most significant predictor of SBA. Therefore more effort should be put in addressing long distances to the health facilities in order to ensure that SBA is embraced by women.