Maternal Health Service Program

Abstract

The overall purpose of the study was to evaluate how the free Maternal Health Services program affects health care utilization in kenya; a case of Mandera County. Cross sectional research study method was used focusing on implementation, effect on maternal health service utilization and results thereof. The following research objectives guided the study:- Examine the impact of Free Maternal Health Service Policy on maternal health service utilization, to profile the status of Free Maternal Health care Program implementation and lastly to propose evidence-based policy recommendations on how to accelerate the usage of maternal health care services. Questionaires were used to collect data. Respondents included; selected health workers from each of the study sites where maternal health services are directly provided and others at the administrative and managerial level. Analysis of data was through descriptive statistics and multiple regression using Ordinary Least Squares, OLS, giving quantifiable statistics and the results obtained with the help of Microsoft office excel programme. The study results would be presented by the use of tables and other relevant methods. The results showed improvement in health care services, hence significant enhancement of heath care utilization. The second objective was to describe profiles for the implementation status of free maternal health Care program and this was addressed by finding out the availability of the infrastructure, essential supplies, medical equipment, availability of health services, ambulatory services and supervision of the programs which majority of the respondents confirmed they were available . In conclusion, the study proposes that the governement should take necessary measures to improve these services; concerted efforts to ensure sustainability of the program by ensuring all the necessitities that are attributed to the success of this program are availed.