Assessing the role of Marie Stopes Uganda in the promotion of maternal health in Namuwongo

Abstract

Uganda having participated in achieving the 8 MDGs with its target goal on the reduction of the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015 was not achieved. Thus MSU intervened so that the target goal would be accomplished. It was this that forced to find out whether the intervention by MSU has led to the promotion of maternal health with a case study of Namuwongo clinic and women. The major objective of the study was to access the role of MSU in the promotion of maternal health in Namuwongo, a case study of women and the clinic. Firstly the specific objective was to establish the activities that MSU puts into place to disseminate information about maternal health among the women in Namuwongo, Kampala. Secondly, it was to find out the programs MSU puts in to place to support the pregnant women in Namuwongo, Kampala. Thirdly it was to help to document the health benefits of MSU programs for the pregnant women of Namuwongo. The study involved interviews with 05 health workers and questionnaires with 05 pregnant women and 20 other women who are not pregnant and a total number of 25 questionnaires were issued but the researcher managed to collect 20 questionnaires representing a response rate of 90%. With reference to objective one, majority of the respondents agreed that MSU has been able to establish activities for the pregnant. These include cancer screening, family planning services, HIV testing, counseling and guidance services, helped in testing and screening of STIs and treatment of pregnancy associated diseases. With reference to objective 2, MSU has been able to establish programs such as reproductive health voucher project on life saving skills for the new born, new born and child immunization programs, growth monitoring programs, training of health providers and village health teams among others. According to objective 3, MSU activities and programs have generated a number of benefits such as provision of safe maternal delivery services, effective management of STIs, mobilization of pregnant women to join MSU programs and the services have been brought nearer to the community members among others. The study therefore concludes that various health institutions need intensify and improve the provision of the health services in a way that specifically prioritises maternal health. The study recommends that Uganda’s Ministry of Health and its affiliated institutions, as well all partners on maternal health should consider employing the professional cadres to each health centers to prioritise the implement Uganda’s maternal health service policies to entrench the gains made already in line with the Millenium Development Goals, which ended in 2015.