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This study investigates the relationship between the use of maternal health services and maternal
mortality rates in Butimba ward – Nyamagana district. Specifically the study was guided by four
objectives which were (i)To find out the extend at which education affect the use of maternal
health services, (ii) To find out the effect of costs in as far as using maternal health service is
concerned, (iii) To find out whether distance to health services contributes to maternal mortality
rates, (iv) To find out whether maternal health services are satisfactory.
A conceptual model was put forward for the study, where intermediate variables such as costs,
distance and education intervene in between two variables which are independent and dependent
variables. Independent variable being Maternal Health Services (MHSs) and dependent variable
being Maternal Mortality Rates (MMRs). It was conceptualized that education can influence the
use of maternal health services which in the end can reduce maternal mortality rates. The same
applies to the other two variables i.e cost and distance.
The study was carried out using Descriptive research design; it involves 95 respondents from
Butimba ward and two interviews to supplement information from the questionnaire were
administered to the village executive officer and one nurse. The sample was selected by using
systematic random sampling to pick respondents of the study. The study employed a
triangulation approach, mixing quantitative and qualitative elements. The triangulation was
applied at the methodological level, at data collection level and at data analysis and presentation
of findings. Therefore questionnaires and interviews were used to obtain the data for the study.
Findings of the study revealed that there is certain level of relationship between the two variables
ie MHSs and MMRs. For instance an investigation on one of the intervening variable – costs has
revealed that when expectant mothers are incapable of paying the money they are treated
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harshly, at times they are not given services until they pay while at other times they attended but
abused. The results have also shown that a significant number of the respondents were
unsatisfied with the services towards the utilization of MHSs. However the findings have also
shown that majority of the respondents are affected by the distance factor as it was revealed that
a significant number of many stay far away beyond four km.
Recommendations also were made, and these recommendations were made based on the research
findings. Since it was found that expectant mothers live a far away distance, then the study
recommends that health centers that provide MHS should be extended to the mothers and those
services be multiplied.
The government should, in partnership with other stake holders, provide and encourage the use
of mobile clinics, since it has been proven that distance is an obstacle, and all the other problems
associated with it.
Community awareness needs to be raised on maternal health seeking behavior and families and
community in general need to be prepared for means of transport or transport costs.
Since it has been discovered that expectant mothers are asked to pay when it is not supposed to
be so, clear and stipulated laws should be put in place and adhered to. |
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