Maternal Health Care in Uganda
Uganda has one of the eight worst maternal mortality ratios in the world. [11]
The maternal mortality ratio in Uganda is currently 430:100,000 live births, while in developed countries such as the United States, the ratio is 13:100,000 live births. [12][13]
The leading cause of death for Ugandan women is pregnancy-related. [14]
The major international project dedicated to improving maternal health care in Uganda is the Millennium Development Goals.
During my time in Uganda, I spent six weeks conducting an independent research project. My project focused on the barriers that women face to accessing maternal health care services in urban and rural Uganda. See my abstract below or scroll to the bottom of the page to view my full research report.
Abstract:
The goal of this research project was to determine the barriers that mothers face to accessing maternal healthcare services in urban and rural Uganda. The maternal mortality ratio in Uganda has been exceedingly high for several years and will continue to be unless these barriers are addressed. Two main categories of delays were studied: the delay mothers experience from their households to the health facilities and delays that occur at the health facilities. Within these two categories, there were several subsections addressed including transportation, social/cultural practices, gender roles, antenatal care (during pregnancy), delivery, postnatal care (after pregnancy), timeliness, and quality of privacy, staff’s attitudes, and amenities available.
The research was conducted at Nsambya Hospital, which is located in urban Kampala, and Kagando Hospital (shown at left), which is located in rural Kasese. Research methods utilized were survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. Questionnaires concerning maternal healthcare were given to 50 pregnant women at each hospital. Key informants chosen for interviews were midwives at the hospitals, and an OB-GYN (Obstetrician- Gynecologist) and pediatrician from the United States. Observations were made at the antenatal clinic, labor ward and surgical theatre at each hospital.
It was discovered that mothers face major delays to accessing maternal healthcare both in urban Kampala and rural Kasese. The delay from household to health facility was found to mainly affect mothers in the rural area of Kasese, while the delay at the health facility affects mothers at both Nsambya and Kagando Hospital. The delay from household to health facility was largely contributed to transportation issues faced by women in Kasese. These transportation barriers led more women in the rural area to attend antenatal care when they were already too far into their pregnancies, or to deliver at home, without the care of a skilled birth attendant. The delays experienced at the health facilities were similar for both hospitals. At both Nsambya Hospital and Kagando Hospital, improvements must be made with the number of urine tests given to mothers and the implementation of pap smears to check for cervical cancer. Many mothers also acknowledged the excessively long amount of time spent waiting to receive medical attention at antenatal care visits. All of these and many more barriers are causing Ugandan women to experience inadequate maternal healthcare services.
My full research report:
The maternal mortality ratio in Uganda is currently 430:100,000 live births, while in developed countries such as the United States, the ratio is 13:100,000 live births. [12][13]
The leading cause of death for Ugandan women is pregnancy-related. [14]
The major international project dedicated to improving maternal health care in Uganda is the Millennium Development Goals.
During my time in Uganda, I spent six weeks conducting an independent research project. My project focused on the barriers that women face to accessing maternal health care services in urban and rural Uganda. See my abstract below or scroll to the bottom of the page to view my full research report.
Abstract:
The goal of this research project was to determine the barriers that mothers face to accessing maternal healthcare services in urban and rural Uganda. The maternal mortality ratio in Uganda has been exceedingly high for several years and will continue to be unless these barriers are addressed. Two main categories of delays were studied: the delay mothers experience from their households to the health facilities and delays that occur at the health facilities. Within these two categories, there were several subsections addressed including transportation, social/cultural practices, gender roles, antenatal care (during pregnancy), delivery, postnatal care (after pregnancy), timeliness, and quality of privacy, staff’s attitudes, and amenities available.
The research was conducted at Nsambya Hospital, which is located in urban Kampala, and Kagando Hospital (shown at left), which is located in rural Kasese. Research methods utilized were survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. Questionnaires concerning maternal healthcare were given to 50 pregnant women at each hospital. Key informants chosen for interviews were midwives at the hospitals, and an OB-GYN (Obstetrician- Gynecologist) and pediatrician from the United States. Observations were made at the antenatal clinic, labor ward and surgical theatre at each hospital.
It was discovered that mothers face major delays to accessing maternal healthcare both in urban Kampala and rural Kasese. The delay from household to health facility was found to mainly affect mothers in the rural area of Kasese, while the delay at the health facility affects mothers at both Nsambya and Kagando Hospital. The delay from household to health facility was largely contributed to transportation issues faced by women in Kasese. These transportation barriers led more women in the rural area to attend antenatal care when they were already too far into their pregnancies, or to deliver at home, without the care of a skilled birth attendant. The delays experienced at the health facilities were similar for both hospitals. At both Nsambya Hospital and Kagando Hospital, improvements must be made with the number of urine tests given to mothers and the implementation of pap smears to check for cervical cancer. Many mothers also acknowledged the excessively long amount of time spent waiting to receive medical attention at antenatal care visits. All of these and many more barriers are causing Ugandan women to experience inadequate maternal healthcare services.
My full research report:
independentstudyproject.docx | |
File Size: | 238 kb |
File Type: | docx |