Community based strategies for reducing maternal mortality in Lusaka and Chongwe: A grounded theory approach
type: CreativeWork
description: Zambia is one of the countries with a very high maternal mortality rate. Since the focus on attaining the Millennium Development Goals begun, the Ministry of Health has been implementing a series of strategies and interventions aimed at reducing maternal mortality with varying success. The country recently recorded a reduction in maternal mortality from 591 in 2007 to 398 in 2014 (CSO-ZDHS, 2014). While this figure is still high, it is nonetheless a positive indication that the country is doing something right. Available data shows that most of the maternal deaths take place in the community: at home or while on the way to a health facility. While we are sure of the clinical based strategies, little has been done to understand what is working well in the communities and how the end-users perceive these interventions. This paper aimed to qualitatively explore the community based interventions and strategies that have contributed in reducing maternal mortality in Lusaka and Chongwe Districts, Zambia. Data was gathered through review of documents and Key Informant Interviews. A total of 29 interviews were conducted with Ministry of Health staff, community based health volunteers, mothers and pregnant women as well as maternal health specialists from selected NGOs. The results show that reducing maternal mortality is an inter play of many strategic interventions supported by policies focussed on empowering people in the community to take an active role in the management of maternal health. Strengthening of human capacity and systems; improving maternal health financing and service delivery at community level also helps to consolidate and sustain the maternal health activities. Community based maternal health groups have helped to address cultural barriers to good maternal health; helped increase male involvement in maternal health; as well as helped build a network of transporters who help transport pregnant women to the health facilities using different available local…
abstract: Zambia is one of the countries with a very high maternal mortality rate. Since the focus on attaining the Millennium Development Goals begun, the Ministry of Health has been implementing a series of strategies and interventions aimed at reducing maternal mortality with varying success. The country recently recorded a reduction in maternal mortality from 591 in 2007 to 398 in 2014 (CSO-ZDHS, 2014). While this figure is still high, it is nonetheless a positive indication that the country is doing something right. Available data shows that most of the maternal deaths take place in the community: at home or while on the way to a health facility. While we are sure of the clinical based strategies, little has been done to understand what is working well in the communities and how the end-users perceive these interventions. This paper aimed to qualitatively explore the community based interventions and strategies that have contributed in reducing maternal mortality in Lusaka and Chongwe Districts, Zambia. Data was gathered through review of documents and Key Informant Interviews. A total of 29 interviews were conducted with Ministry of Health staff, community based health volunteers, mothers and pregnant women as well as maternal health specialists from selected NGOs. The results show that reducing maternal mortality is an inter play of many strategic interventions supported by policies focussed on empowering people in the community to take an active role in the management of maternal health. Strengthening of human capacity and systems; improving maternal health financing and service delivery at community level also helps to consolidate and sustain the maternal health activities. Community based maternal health groups have helped to address cultural barriers to good maternal health; helped increase male involvement in maternal health; as well as helped build a network of transporters who help transport pregnant women to the health facilities using different available local…
author: Katungu, Obrey
language: en
keywords: Mothers-Mortality-Chongwe,Zambia, Preganancy-Complications-Zambia, Labor(Obstetrics)-Complications-Zambia
date published: 2017
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:07:12Z
provider: University of Zimbabwe
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: The University of Zambia