Distribution of Free Safe Delivery Kits in all Public Health Facilities in Tanzania: Has it worked as Expected?

Abstract

This study was carried in Mkuranga District Hospital to assess the accessibility to free delivery kit in public health facilities. Specifically, the study examined public awareness of presence of delivery kit in public health facilities; it assessed the accessibility to free delivery kit during delivery as well as identifying predisposing factors for expecting women to access free delivery kit from Government owned health facilities. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected from 96 respondents who were mothers attending post natal clinic. Respondents (mothers) were selected using systematic random sampling while key informants were selected using purposive sampling. Data was then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) programme. The results show that, despite of significant contribution of the delivery kit in providing a hygienic birthing environment, awareness and accessibility to delivery kit is still low, favoritism, delays in procuring kits and little budget allocated on delivery kits are the leading factors for inaccessibility to delivery kits. It is recommended that the ministry of health and social welfare has to advertise and promote delivery kit from national to community level, along with increasing the budget allocation on delivery kit as well as ensuring that appropriate monitoring on procurement and distribution of delivery kits to the end users is enhanced.