Effectiveness of the mother-friendly hospital initiative on the delivery of maternal and newborn care among the MFHI-centred health facilities. A cross-sectional study.

Rezumat

Background

Effective maternal and child health practice requires skillfully combining a number of theoretical models and frameworks to support systems addressing the health needs of women, children, and families. The study assessed the effectiveness of the Mother Friendly Hospital Initiative on the delivery of maternal and newborn care among the MFHI-centred health facilities.

 Methodology

This was an exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study that adapted both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The study population included all mothers of reproductive age (15-45years) who are receiving maternal and newborn care services.

 Results

There were slightly more female participants (85.7%) than males (14.3%).  Most of the respondents (88.6%) agreed that mothers in labour were provided with the highest level of privacy. Under BEMOC, uterotonics (94.28%) and parenteral antibiotics (91.43%) were the most administered emergencies. All (100%) in Buikwe hospitals are satisfied with their work mainly because of the good pay and good working environment. Maternal satisfaction was highest for quality of nursing care received in MFHI hospitals (mean: 4.72 ± 0.55, median: 5[IQR: 5-5]) and lowest in the non-MFHI hospitals (mean: 3.85 ± 0.74, median: 4[IQR: 3-4]). Antenatal care (ANC) utilisation by women across all hospitals was relatively high, between 70% and 88%. A statistically significant relationship was found between the type of hospital and ANC use (χ2 =12.320, df=1, p<.001). Generally, the proportion of women attending ANC in the MFHI hospitals is lower than that in non-MFHI hospitals.

 Conclusion

This program was a good innovation towards improvement of maternal and child health and has shown indicators of reducing maternal mortality by ensuring hospitable care for all mothers to seek care.

 Recommendations

MFHI should further develop strategies to strengthen health workers' skills in handling mothers as one way to enforce increased access and utilisation of maternal health services.