Title:
Factors influencing access to and utilization of Free Maternity Services in Kenya
Authors:
meme, Margaret
Year:
2016
PAGE:
viii, 54
Language:
En
Subject:
Maternal Health – Lessons Learned
Keywords:
Free Maternity Services, FMS, Demand Side Factors, Supply Side Factors, Contextual factors, Health System
Abstract:
Background: In 2013, the Free Maternity Service (FMS) was introduced in Kenya to remove the financial barrier to accessing and utilizing maternity services in all public and private health facilities. However, mothers have not responded fully as expected due to various reasons such as the lack of money and other hidden costs, the long distance to the health facility, bad roads, human rights, gender inequality and inequities. This review gives a deeper and broader understanding of the factors influencing access and utilization of free maternity services as well as contextual factors that address the barriers. Method: Literature review. Results: On the demand side, for FMS, the following factors stood out: long distance to health facility, high cost, religious, socio-cultural beliefs and practices, the low status of women, the lack of knowledge and information. These affected the demand to accessing and utilization the FMS. In addition, the pregnant women’s perception and experiences such as the health worker’s bad attitude and poor quality of services discourage mothers accessing and utilizing free maternity services again. On the supply side, the focus was on the health system. The main challenges were: poor workforce and their distribution, funding gaps, shortages commodities for maternity services, incomplete and poor quality of routine data and information which greatly affected the quality of the FMS. The contextual factors in which the three delays occurred included global and national commitment to end preventable maternal deaths of women and adolescents. Conclusion: The demand side, supply side factors and contextual factors affect the pregnant women accessing and utilizing FMS. The FMS only removes the financial barrier to accessing and utilizing maternity services. Therefore other factors associated with the 3 delays must be understood and addressed effectively.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institue)
Department:
Health
Country:
Kenya, Republic of
Region:
Eastern africa
Training:
Master of Public Health/International Course in Health Development (MPH/ICHD)
Category:
Research
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
aiTlDXBfko_20170503163528249.pdf