Improving maternal and child health outcomes through a community involvement strategy in Kabula location, Bungoma County, Kenya

Fabian Esamai; Ann Mwangi; Mabel Nangami; John Tabu; David Ayuku; Edwin Were

Dialogues in Health (Dec 2022)

Improving maternal and child health outcomes through a community involvement strategy in Kabula location, Bungoma County, Kenya

Fabian Esamai,
Ann Mwangi,
Mabel Nangami,
John Tabu,
David Ayuku,
Edwin Were

Affiliations

Fabian Esamai: Dept of Child Health and Paediatrics, School of Medicine College of health Sciences Moi University, Kenya; Corresponding author.
Ann Mwangi: Dept of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine College of Health Sciences Moi University, P. O Box 4606, 30100 Eldoret, Kenya
Mabel Nangami: Dept of health management and Health Policy, School of Public Health, College of health Sciences, Moi University, P. O Box 4606, 30100 Eldoret, Kenya
John Tabu: Senior Lecturer, Dept of Disaster Risk Management, School of Public health, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, P. O Box 4606, 30100 Eldoret, Kenya
David Ayuku: Clinical Psychology, Dept of behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine College of Health Sciences Moi University, P. O Box 4606, 30100 Eldoret, Kenya
Edwin Were: Dept of Reproductive Health, School of Medicine College of health Sciences Moi University, P. O Box 4606, 30100 Eldoret, Kenya

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1
p. 100026

Abstract

Read online

Background: Maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality are higher in low-income compared to high-income countries due to weak health systems including poor access and utilization of health services. Despite enormous recent improvements in maternal, neonatal and under five children health indicators, more rapid progress is needed to meet the targets including the Sustainable Development Goal 3(SDG). In Kenya these indicators are still high and comprehensive systems are needed to attain these goals. Objective: To facilitate innovative partnerships in health care provision and to assess trends in access, utilization and quality of Maternal and Child Health care through the health systems approach using community owned initiatives including use of community owned resourse persons (CORPs), establishment of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Income Generating Activities(IGAs). Study site: This was implemented in Kabula location, Bungoma County, Kenya between January 2016 and April 2019. Study population: Pregnant women, newborns and under-five children living in Kabula location identified by Community Owned Resource Persons (CORPs). Methods: A prospective study to show trends in maternal, neonatal and infant outcomes through the implementation of community owned initiatives. Findings: General, under five and antenatal clinic attendance increased four fold in 2016,2017 and 2018. There was a 76% full immunization coverage with 97% BCG and 84% Polio coverage respectively among children studied. There was an 87% facility delivery rate among the pregnant women enrolled in the study. Conclusions: Trends in Maternal and under-five health indicators in Kabula showed improvements over the study period following the implementation of the community owned initiatives and community participation. Recommendations: The community owned initiatives as implemented in this study is useful in primary care and universal health coverage programs in health care delivery systems in LMICs.

Published in Dialogues in Health

ISSN: 2772-6533 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/dialogues-in-health

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords