Maternal Support Systems in Buikwe District, Uganda: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background: Uganda is a country struggling with reducing the neonatal mortality rate of 20/1000 live births reported in 2018 and to fully implement Ugandan clinical guidelines (UCG) on care for mothers and newborns during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum. This study aimed at describing maternal support systems including women’s access to and use of maternal health care and home support systems. Methods: Maternal support systems were investigated using qualitative methods including participant observations, semi-structured interviews with key-informants and focus group discussions with mothers. Malterud’s Systematic text condensation (STC) was used for analysis and Nvivo software to structure the data. Results: Antenatal care was valued by mothers and they relied on professional health workers and traditional birth attendants (TBA’s) for basic maternal services. General discontentment with spousal and family contributions in the postnatal period, financial dependency and lack of autonomy in decision making on maternal issues prohibited women in receiving optimal help and support. Postnatal follow-ups were found unsatisfactory. Conclusions: Further focus on gender equity involving women’s right to own decision making in maternity issues, higher recognition of male involvement in maternity care and improved postnatal follow-ups are suggestions for improved neonatal outcomes in Buikwe district, Uganda.