Abstract:
Although provision of quality maternal healthcare has proven to be a critical
strategy in reducing the high global maternal mortality level, studies on quality
maternal healthcare have often been from provider’s perspective with limited
research on service users, particularly in the context of health facilities. This study
therefore assessed the quality of maternal healthcare in the Wa Municipality. The
study was qualitative and guided by the Donabedian approach for measuring
service quality. Fourteen health facilities were purposively selected and 62
mothers who received post-natal care were interviewed. Six Focus Group
Discussion (of 39 members) and 26 In-depth Interviews were conducted in all.
The analysis was guided by inductive content analysis approach. The results
showed that mothers assigned varied meanings to the concept of quality maternal
healthcare, which reinforce the subjective nature of service quality. It was
reported that the attitude of healthcare providers towards women during labour
was woeful. Again, timeliness, interpersonal care from service providers, limited
number of midwives on weekends amongst others were hindrances to the
attainment of quality healthcare within the Municipality. It is recommended that
the Wa Municipal Health Directorate as well as Nursing and Midwifery Council
should deploy more midwives to rural areas in the region to help address referral
challenges confronted by expectant mothers. Refresher courses should be given to
healthcare providers on quality healthcare, so us to improve their service delivery.
It is concluded that quality maternal healthcare received from providers was fair
as such users’ were less willing to revisit those health facilities.
