Browsing by Author "Zakeyo, Delice"
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- ItemA comparative study of the quality of maternal health service provision in church mission and government hospitals in Zimbabwe. The Case of the Harare Central and Karanda hospitals(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Zakeyo, Delice; Lange, Junay; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.ENGLISH SUMMARY: The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of maternal health service provision in church mission and government hospitals in Zimbabwe. A purposive sample of 64 participants was used for collecting data. The sample consisted of 60 women seeking maternal health services and four health professionals representing service providers. Participants were drawn from the Karanda Mission and Harare Central hospitals. Questionnaires were used as interview guides for in-depth interviews with research subjects. The questionnaires were used to investigate how patients perceive service delivery at each of the institutions and their reasons for choosing to visit the particular hospital. Questionnaires for the matron and director of maternity services, on the other hand, investigated the success and challenges faced by maternity health service providers. Interviews were conducted face to face; notes were handwritten, and transcribed at the end of each day. Data coding was used for analysis. The study revealed that the range of maternal health services at the church mission hospital and the government hospital did not differ significantly. Though they provide similar maternal health services, the major distinguishing factor was the ownership, management and administration of these hospitals. These factors have an influence on user fees; availability of skilled attendants; availability and adequacy of services; and availability of essential medicines and equipment. The study concludes that women bypass government hospitals in preference of church mission hospitals where they expect more positive health outcomes for them and their new-borns. The quality of maternal health service is said to be better at mission hospitals such as the Karanda Mission. Factors mentioned by participants as constituting quality are the ability of service providers at church mission hospitals to manage complications; the availability of skilled local and expatriate doctors; short waiting periods; and availability of essential medicines and equipment such as incubators and resuscitators. The research hypothesis can be accepted as true though more research needs to be done to cover all mission hospitals and nearby government hospitals.