Examining the Linkages Between Community Participation and Maternal Mortality Reduction in the La-Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly.

Abstract

Community participation in health is seen as a very effective but challenging implementation approach to health service delivery and has been of great interest among health care policy planners and implementers. It is a system approach that aims at enhancing accessibility and the utilization of health services at the community level. Whilst the beginning of the idea and conceptual development of community participation are fundamentally attributed to large multinational health institutions, particularly the World Health Organization (WHO), its implementation is the ultimate responsibility of local health programme initiators. This study examining the links between community participation and maternal mortality reduction in the la-dade kotopon municipal assembly. Both quantitative and Qualitative data were collected from personnel of the municipal health directorate and residents’ in-depth interviews, two focus group discussions and a community conversation with all the major actors at the community. The various actors collectively evaluated community participation in the maternal health program. The findings from the thematic analysis show that the community participated in some stages of the planning and implementation process. However, majority of the informants indicated that they were not consulted about their specific health needs before the facility was established. The study found a positive effect of community participation on maternal health reduction. The study concludes that communities should be capacitated and encouraged to participate in health interventions at the community level.