The Financial Cost of Maternal Near Miss in Kenya

Kenneth Juma , African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Michael M. Mutua, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Joshua Amo-Adjei, University of Cape Coast
Taylor Riley, Guttmacher Institute
Onikepe Owolabi, Guttmacher Institute
Martin Bangha, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

Improved access to quality healthcare throughout pregnancy and during childbirth has led to significant reductions in maternal mortality across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Kenya. However, maternal morbidity, represented by severe obstetric complications, remain a major public health challenge. A maternal near-miss (MNM) is defined as a woman who nearly died but survived a complication during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. MNMs are associated with severe social and economic implications for women, households and health systems. While evidence is limited on costs of MNM treatment, few studies have suggested high costs with catastrophic impact on household budgets. This prospective, cross-sectional study investigated the national burden of MNM and the financial costs of treating MNMs in Kenya. Analysis will mainly present total direct and indirect cost of MNM treatment, costs of MNMs due to unsafe abortions, source of funds, and proportion of MNM expenses to household income.

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 Presented in Session 172. Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: Financing and Quality of Care