COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya
Introduction: Maternal mortality continues to be one of the biggest challenges of the health system in Kenya. Informal settlements in Kenya have been known to have higher rates of maternal mortality and also receive maternity services of varied quality. Data assessing progress on key maternal health...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-11-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2020.599267/full |
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Article |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jackline Oluoch-Aridi Jackline Oluoch-Aridi Tecla Chelagat Mary M. Nyikuri Joseph Onyango Danice Guzman Cindy Makanga Laura Miller-Graff Laura Miller-Graff Robert Dowd |
spellingShingle |
Jackline Oluoch-Aridi Jackline Oluoch-Aridi Tecla Chelagat Mary M. Nyikuri Joseph Onyango Danice Guzman Cindy Makanga Laura Miller-Graff Laura Miller-Graff Robert Dowd COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya Frontiers in Global Women's Health COVID-19 informal settlements Kenya women maternity services access |
author_facet |
Jackline Oluoch-Aridi Jackline Oluoch-Aridi Tecla Chelagat Mary M. Nyikuri Joseph Onyango Danice Guzman Cindy Makanga Laura Miller-Graff Laura Miller-Graff Robert Dowd |
author_sort |
Jackline Oluoch-Aridi |
title |
COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya |
title_short |
COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya |
title_full |
COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya |
title_fullStr |
COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya |
title_full_unstemmed |
COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in Kenya |
title_sort |
covid-19 effect on access to maternal health services in kenya |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
issn |
2673-5059 |
publishDate |
2020-11-01 |
description |
Introduction: Maternal mortality continues to be one of the biggest challenges of the health system in Kenya. Informal settlements in Kenya have been known to have higher rates of maternal mortality and also receive maternity services of varied quality. Data assessing progress on key maternal health indicators within informal settlements are also often scarce. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Kenya in March this year and so far, the impact of the pandemic on access to maternal health has not been established. This study aims to add to the body of knowledge by investigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies on access to health care services in informal settlements.Methods: Qualitative methods using in-depth interviews were used to assess women's experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 era and the impact of proposed mitigation strategies such as the lockdown and the curfew. Other aspects of the maternity experience such as women's knowledge of COVID-19, their perceived risk of infection, access to health facilities, perceived quality of care were assessed. Challenges that women facing as a result of the lockdown and curfew with respect to maternal health access and quality were also assessed.Results: Our findings illustrate that there was a high awareness of the symptoms and preventative measures for COVID-19 amongst women in informal settlements. Our findings also show that women's perception of risk to themselves was high, whereas risk to family and friends, and in their neighborhood was perceived as low. Less than half of women reported reduced access due to fear of contracting Coronavirus, Deprioritization of health services, economic constraints, and psychosocial effects were reported due to the imposed lockdown and curfew. Most respondents perceived improvements in quality of care due to short-waiting times, hygiene measures, and responsive health personnel. However, this was only reported for the outpatient services and not in-patient services.Conclusion: The most important recommendation was for the Government to provide food followed by financial support and other basic amenities. This has implications for the Government's mitigation measures that are focused on public health measures and lack social safety-net approaches for the most vulnerable communities. |
topic |
COVID-19 informal settlements Kenya women maternity services access |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2020.599267/full |
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doaj-538aba1b8c8641e8abec1b130500d9102021-04-02T20:25:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592020-11-01110.3389/fgwh.2020.599267599267COVID-19 Effect on Access to Maternal Health Services in KenyaJackline Oluoch-Aridi0Jackline Oluoch-Aridi1Tecla Chelagat2Mary M. Nyikuri3Joseph Onyango4Danice Guzman5Cindy Makanga6Laura Miller-Graff7Laura Miller-Graff8Robert Dowd9The Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesStrathmore Business School, Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, KenyaStrathmore Business School, Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, KenyaStrathmore Business School, Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, KenyaStrathmore Business School, Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, KenyaThe Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesThe Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesThe Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, The Kroc Institute of Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesThe Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesIntroduction: Maternal mortality continues to be one of the biggest challenges of the health system in Kenya. Informal settlements in Kenya have been known to have higher rates of maternal mortality and also receive maternity services of varied quality. Data assessing progress on key maternal health indicators within informal settlements are also often scarce. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Kenya in March this year and so far, the impact of the pandemic on access to maternal health has not been established. This study aims to add to the body of knowledge by investigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies on access to health care services in informal settlements.Methods: Qualitative methods using in-depth interviews were used to assess women's experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 era and the impact of proposed mitigation strategies such as the lockdown and the curfew. Other aspects of the maternity experience such as women's knowledge of COVID-19, their perceived risk of infection, access to health facilities, perceived quality of care were assessed. Challenges that women facing as a result of the lockdown and curfew with respect to maternal health access and quality were also assessed.Results: Our findings illustrate that there was a high awareness of the symptoms and preventative measures for COVID-19 amongst women in informal settlements. Our findings also show that women's perception of risk to themselves was high, whereas risk to family and friends, and in their neighborhood was perceived as low. Less than half of women reported reduced access due to fear of contracting Coronavirus, Deprioritization of health services, economic constraints, and psychosocial effects were reported due to the imposed lockdown and curfew. Most respondents perceived improvements in quality of care due to short-waiting times, hygiene measures, and responsive health personnel. However, this was only reported for the outpatient services and not in-patient services.Conclusion: The most important recommendation was for the Government to provide food followed by financial support and other basic amenities. This has implications for the Government's mitigation measures that are focused on public health measures and lack social safety-net approaches for the most vulnerable communities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2020.599267/fullCOVID-19informal settlementsKenyawomenmaternity servicesaccess |