Women Satisfaction with Maternal Health Services in Murang’a County Referral Hospital, Kenya.
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Date
2021
Authors
Njenga, Jane W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
In this 21st century, expectant women continue to lose lives during delivery period.
Maternal mortality rate has been recorded to be approximately 585000 deaths annually
across the world while that of sub-Saharan region is approximated to be around 685 per
100000 live births. The Kenyan government has played its role in ensuring that antenatal
care, maternal and postnatal services are put in place and properly maintained. The
general objective of this study is to establish the level of satisfaction of women on the
basis of the free policy on maternal services utilization in Murang’a county. Structured
questionnaires, direct interviews, were used to collect data from 387 mothers who had
given birth in Murang’a county hospital and were waiting to go home. Systematic
sampling was used to sample individual mothers while Murang’a County Referral
Hospital was purposively selected. Data analysis was done through qualitative and
quantitative approach whereby, descriptive and correlation analysis played role in this
study to establish the relationship between criterion and predictor variables. The study
findings indicated that the satisfaction level to mothers who benefitted from this service
was established to be high at 67.2%. The majority of the respondents were aged between
21 years and 30 years (47.9%, n=184), the married mothers were more than half (63.8%,
n=245) and the majority were having secondary level of education (47.4%, n=182). On
religion of the mothers, majority were Christian protestants (78.4%, n=301), with 57.3%
(n=220) reporting to be self-employed and majority were earning 5-10 thousand per
month (39.6%, n=152). The study evaluated socio-demographic factors and hospital
related factors. On socio demographic factors affecting maternal satisfaction on free
maternity services were found to be marital status (P<.001) and mothers’ level of
education (p<.001). Significant health facility related factors included; availability of bed
and linen (p<.001), cleanliness of the hospital (p<.001), availability of incubators for
each child (not sharing incubator) (p=.029), and bed occupancy (not sharing a bed)
(p<.001). The staffs were available when needed (p<.001) and treated the patients with
respect (p<.001). In conclusion the majority of mothers were satisfied with the services.
The hospital should maintain cleanliness, provide bed and incubator for each client
respectively and maintain privacy of their clients’ and information. The ministry of health
ought to increase civic education to all citizens to welcome this initiative and ensure the
facilities are available all through.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Reproductive Health) of Kenyatta University, November, 2021
Keywords
Women Satisfaction, Maternal Health Services, Murang’a County Referral Hospital, Kenya