Influence of Devolution on Maternal Health Care Service Provision in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya

Abstract

The inadequacy of internal health care service despite the anticipated devolution/ decentralization advantage is still a matter of concern. Kenya maternal health care still faces challenges including, lack of access to quality maternal health services including ante-natal, delivery, and post-natal services. Access to skilled delivery is a particular challenge. The study aimed to assess the influence of devolution on maternal health care service provision in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The survey study guided by the McKinsey's 7S theory had a sample size of 77 respondents. The study employed simple random sampling. Questionnaires, interview guide and secondary data were used to collect the data. The study adopted both the qualitative and quantitative analysis in order to achieve its objective. The study concluded that devolution strategy on maternal health care was important only to the extent of assisting in the governing of maternal health services but it did not directly influence provision of maternal health care. The study recommended that the county health care units should conduct wide access campaigns targeting more women of reproductive age to inform them on the new level of service delivery in the county.