Strategies for empowering women to access and uterlize maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia
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Authors
Getaw, Walle Bazie
Issue Date
2024-11
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Action plan , Childbirth at health facility , Intrapartum care , Ma-ternal healthcare , Maternal healthcare services , Maternal healthcare services access , Maternal healthcare services utilisation , Postnatal care , Skilled birth attendance , Strategies , Women’s empowerment , SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Alternative Title
Abstract
The effective use of maternal healthcare services is crucial for maternal and neonatal well-being. Women’s empowerment plays a critical role in healthcare decision-making, influencing the utilisation of these services. This, in turn, impacts maternal and child mor-bidity and mortality. Therefore, empowering women to gain access and utilise maternal healthcare services is an essential intervention strategy to address maternal morbidity and mortality.
The purpose of this study was to develop strategies for empowering women to access and utilise maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia. An explanatory sequential mixed-method approach was used to undertake the study over four phases. In the first phase, quantitative data were gathered from women of reproductive age using a structured in-terviewer-administered questionnaire. In the second phase, qualitative data were gath-ered from women of reproductive age and healthcare providers (HCPs) using semi-struc-tured interview guides. A draft action plan to address the identified strategies (Phases 1 and 2 data as well as a literature review) was developed in Phase 3, while reproductive health officers participated in the e-Delphi technique in Phase 4 to validate the draft action plan until consensus on the action plan was reached.
The findings revealed that a lack of knowledge, a lack of support from husbands, a lack of infrastructure, the distance to the nearest health facility, a lack of transport services, financial constraints, the shortage of HCP staff in health facilities, a lack of competent HCPs and medical resources as well as equipment in the health facilities were the barriers to women’s empowerment and maternal healthcare services access and utilisation.
Improving health education to women and the community, developing the leadership skills of women, improving the income of women, enhancing the capacity-building for HCPs, addressing the remuneration of HCPs, improving the infrastructure of health facilities and roads, improving the provision of maternal healthcare services as well as improving the availability of resources such as medical resources and equipment were the strategies suggested by participants to improve women’s empowerment, and by doing so, improve the access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services.
An action plan to facilitate the implementation of the strategies (the action statements in the action plan) was developed based on the inputs from respondents during Phase 1 (women of reproductive age who were involved in the structured interviewer-administered questionnaire) and Phase 2 (women in the reproductive age and HCPs who were involved in the semi-structured interview guides) as well as a thorough literature review. The action plan was validated and approved by panellists (reproductive health officers) after a three-round Delphi technique in Phase 4. The action plan will be shared with the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to motivate implementation in Ethiopia to enhance the empowerment of women and ensure an improvement in the access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia’s public health facilities.