The right to reproductive health : a case study of the maternal health status of refugees in Kiryandongo Refugee Camp in Uganda, 2013-2018

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the maternal health status of refugees in Kiryandongo refugee camp. The general objective was to assess the maternal health situation, with emphasis on reproductive health rights awareness among refugee women in Kiryandongo refugee camp. The specific objective was to ascertain the level of knowledge about reproductive health rights in the camp, to identify the barriers to knowledge about human rights and investigate the challenges faced by both the refugee women and health workers in the realization of the right to reproductive health. The study then generates recommendations to enhance knowledge about maternal health rights and improve maternal health services in Kiryandongo refugee camp. A qualitative research design was adopted in this study, which employed a combination of cross-sectional and case study methodologies. The sample size consisted of 35 respondents who were purposively sampled. The study population included: refugee women, refugee men, health workers within key health facilities, and NGO staff. Methods used in the data collection included: structured interviews, focus group discussions, observation and documentary review. This study found out that refugee women are knowledgeable about human rights in general, but 5 out of 9 women did not know that maternal health in refugee settings is even a right. The few women who appeared conscious about the rights had no idea where, and how to seek help. Specifically, the women faced asylum procedural barriers and did not know how to file complaints, claim their rights, nor did they know where to go for advice or counseling assistance. Although there was a general knowledge of the right to reproductive health, the bigger challenge the women faced was in relation to access to quality reproductive health services. Services are insufficient, and many women did not receive timely maternal health services, in form of cared and attended births. With regard to quality of maternal health services, the study realized that the maternal mortality rate was low. However, availability of maternal wards was inadequate to handle bigger numbers of maternal health cases. Women encountered challenges to access health facilities, due to long distances to the health centers, and faced institutional challenges such as inadequate nurses and midwives, resulting in failure to have safe and healthy births, let alone seek for adequate care, in a timely and consistent manner. The study findings revealed that women developed negative attitudes towards seeking healthcare support, due to the afore mentioned challenges, and due to limited knowledge about where to seek help, in addition to institutional challenges that affect the medical personnel, in providing quality care. The study suggests a need for human rights sensitization and education, and the need to hire skilled personnel to handle refugee numbers and matters.