Kampala, Uganda – In a significant stride towards maternal and neonatal health advancement, a comprehensive study has illuminated the complex challenges undermining the implementation of midwife-led care across several East African nations.
Titled “Maternal Health Leaders’ Perceptions of Barriers to midwife-led care in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, and Uganda,” this study unveils vital insights into the views of healthcare leaders from these regions.
Led by a collaborative team of experts hailing from esteemed institutions in Sweden, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, this study delves deep into the perspectives of maternal health leaders spanning Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, and Uganda.
The study was spearheaded by Johanna Blomgren, Sara Gabrielsson, Kerstin Erlandsson, Miriam C.A. Wagoro, Mariam Namutebi, Eveles Chimala, and Helena Lindgren, and its addresses barriers hindering the successful execution of midwife-led care, as voiced by frontline figures in maternal healthcare leadership.
The study engaged 25 participants, all holding leadership positions in maternal and child health within the five countries.
Through online focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, these healthcare leaders offered profound insights into their experiences and perceptions.
Findings:
Central among the identified barriers were deeply entrenched traditional hierarchies and rigid organizational structures within healthcare systems.
These divisions between healthcare professions impeded cohesive interdisciplinary collaboration, hampering midwives’ capacity to provide effective midwife-led care.
Gender inequalities emerged as another significant concern, with midwifery often relegated to a stereotypically low-skilled domain tailored for women. This perception, rooted in cultural norms and gender-based beliefs, adversely affects the status and empowerment of midwives.
Solution:
In response to these challenges, study participants stressed the imperative of intra- and multisectoral cooperation.
They advocated for dismantling compartmentalized healthcare approaches and promoting synergy between diverse sectors and professional associations.
Initiatives aimed at raising awareness and enhancing the esteem of midwives were highlighted as pivotal, challenging ingrained gender norms, ensuring equitable access to education, and championing midwives’ roles as leaders within maternal care.
The implications of this research are far-reaching, with the potential to transform maternal and neonatal health outcomes, elevate satisfaction with care, and optimize the utilization of healthcare resources.
However, the study authors also noted that despite these potential benefits, midwife-led care has yet to be fully integrated into the healthcare systems of the examined nations.
As East African countries endeavor to overcome these challenges, the insights garnered from this study could be instrumental in driving policy changes, fostering collaboration, and ultimately paving the way for a brighter future for maternal and neonatal care across the region.
For more details and comprehensive findings, click on this link for more about this transformative study, set to reshape the landscape of maternal healthcare in East Africa.
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