Effectiveness assessment of maternity waiting homes in increasing coverage of institutional deliveries using geographical information systems in six districts of Cabo Delgado Province (Mozambique)

Abstract

Mozambique is in the process of setting up maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in an attempt to improve access of women living in remote areas. It is expected that MWHs will increase institutional deliveries and consequently, decrease maternal mortality caused by the delay in reaching obstetric care. However, no evidence for this assumption has been found in the literature. The objective of this research was, using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to assess the impact of MWHs in increasing institutional deliveries coverage. GIS technology is a valuable methodology to analyse access, especially in contexts where official records are weak. An ecological study, using a sample of 28 health facilities, was conducted in six districts in northern Mozambique. The findings suggest that MWHs could contribute to increasing institutional deliveries coverage in a range of 4% to 2 %. However, they do not appear to increase access of women living in remote areas.