Abstract:
Introduction
The Government of Kenya instituted the free maternity services (FMS) policy to improve uti-
lization of maternal healthcare services and thus improve maternal health. The aim of this
study was to evaluate the effect of the FMS policy on the uptake of maternal health services
in Nyamira County in western Kenya.
Methods
An interrupted time series study design was used to design the study and to analyze the col-
lected data. Forty-two data sets were collected for each outcome variable i.e. 24 pre- and 18
post-intervention. Monthly data was abstracted from the District Health Information System-
2 (DHIS-2) and verified using facility data. The collected data was then keyed into SPSS-17,
cleaned and analyzed.
Results
During the study period, there was a significant increase in births attended by skilled atten-
dants up to the 12th month (p<0.05) and caesarean section up to the ninth month (p<0.05).
There was a decrease in obstetric complications up to the 12 month (p<0.05). In addition
there was a significant increase in institutional maternal mortality ratio (iMMR) in the 12th
and 18th months (p<0.05) following the implementation of free maternity service policy.
There was a significant increase in deliveries in hospitals from the 1st to the 18th month
(p<0.05) whereas in primary health care facilities the increase in deliveries was only signifi-
cant up to the 6th month (p<0.05).
Conclusions
The FMS policy led to progress towards improving maternal health by improving access to
maternal health services. The improved utilization of maternal health services was more
marked in hospitals. There was a worsening of institutional maternal mortality ratio.