Abstract

There is a growing movement, globally and particularly in the Africa region, to reduce financial barriers to health care. Approximately 585,000 women of Reproductive age die each year from pregnancy related causes worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose of the study was to examine how free maternity healthcare programme influences maternal mortality rate in Kenya. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to determine how free antenatal care influences maternal mortality rate in Bomet County; to establish how free delivery care influences the lives of others in Bomet County; to assess how free Emergency medical services influences maternal mortality rate in Bomet County and to identify how free postnatal care influences maternal mortality rate in Bomet County. The target population of this study entailed 224 mothers who attend various health maternity clinic, 20 nurses, 10 paramedics and 5 doctors. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study focused on collecting primary and secondary data using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. Validity of the research instruments was determined by content and construct validity while reliability of the research instruments was determined by internal consistency method. Data collected was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Parametric and Nonparametric data was analyzed; such as measures of central tendency, variability and dispersion and correlation. Data were analyzed by use of and the results were presented in the table form and context. The key findings of the study revealed that free maternity care has a direct relationship to maternal mortality rate; the rate of deaths due to pregnancy related causes have reduced significantly in Kenya since the introduction of this program. The study recommended that the government should develop both long term and short term strategies in implementing free maternal healthcare services in public hospitals including creating awareness, training staff and adding more services to the program.

Authors and Affiliations