Degree
Master of Arts
Program
Geography
Supervisor
Isaac Luginaah
Abstract
Reducing barriers to accessing maternal healthcare and training health professionals in emergency maternal health care are critical components of improving overall maternal health. This study used a qualitative approach to understand mothers’ perceptions and experiences of accessing maternal health in Rwanda and explored the potential of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to improve maternal healthcare. Socio-economic and geographical factors were found to be the primary barriers to accessing maternal healthcare. The findings reveal the important role of CHWs to improving maternal health and health professionals who received CPD training indicated that they were more confident working as interdisciplinary teams, which is a major obstacle to providing quality maternal health care in Rwanda. Providing training and resources for CHWs and expanding CPD programs would help to improve the quality of care provided to mothers. CPD can also help to enhance the maternal health education which will encourage mothers to use health facilities.
Recommended Citation
Tuyisenge, Germaine, "Mothers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Accessing Maternal Health Care : Exploring the Role of Community Health Workers and Continuing Professional Development in Rwanda:" (2015). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 2832.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/2832