Use of Private and Public Health Facilities for essential Maternal and Child Health Services in Nairobi City informal settlements: Perspectives of Women and Community Health Volunteers

  • Pauline Bakibinga African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
  • Abdhalah K Ziraba African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
  • Remare Ettarh Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, Edmonton, Alberta,
  • Eva Kamande African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
  • Thaddaeus Egondi Independent consultant, Nairobi
  • Catherine Kyobutungi African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
Keywords: Public, Private, Maternal and Child Health, Slums, Kenya

Abstract

We describe the sources of care for delivery, family planning and child welfare services in urban slums of Nairobi. We further explore the perceptions of women and community health volunteers regarding choice and quality of services at health facilities. Data are from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2013 involving interviews with 849 women aged 12-49 years, 968 caregivers of children under five years, and focus group discussions with a subset of the women and community health volunteers. The findings showed that most women sought delivery care and family planning services from private health facilities (51.5% and 47.4%, respectively). Private health facilities were preferred because of ease of access and quality of care although their service fees were considered high. By contrast, public health facilities were viewed as affordable and staffed by qualified personnel although they were characterised by long queues and poor provider attitudes

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Author Biographies

Pauline Bakibinga, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
Health Challenges and Systems Research progarmaHealth Challenges and Systems Research Program15
Abdhalah K Ziraba, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
Health Challenges and Systems Research progarm
Eva Kamande, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
Health Challenges and Systems Research progarm
Catherine Kyobutungi, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi
Health Challenges and Systems Research progarm
Published
2016-10-18
Section
Articles