Improving access to maternal healthcare services using a human-centred approach

Designing evidence-based strategies for tackling antenatal care barriers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case study among pregnant women in Abuja, Central Nigeria.

The Challenge

To design innovative interventions to improve antenatal care coverage and maternal health outcomes.

The Approach

A collaborative research study identified key barriers to maternal healthcare, including poverty, healthcare costs, and cultural influences. Data from surveys and interviews with 288 mothers were analyzed, and short-term solutions like SMS education and husband involvement were proposed. Long-term recommendations focused on affordable healthcare, infrastructure investment, and financial education.

Overview

Nigeria faces a high maternal mortality rate, with about 60,000 deaths reported in 2015. These deaths are primarily due to issues such as accessibility, affordability, and a lack of accurate healthcare information. In response, the Council of Entrepreneurs for Africa (COEFA) launched “Project Kaampe,” in collaboration with the Human-Centred Design Lab (HCDL), to tackle these barriers and improve antenatal care access for expectant mothers in Central Nigeria.

Methodology

The project began with background research on maternal mortality and antenatal care (ANC) in Nigeria, supported by interviews with subject matter experts such as doctors and academicians. Through COEFA, 12 hospitals in Abuja were involved, and 288 mothers (pregnant and nursing) were surveyed. The data collected was analyzed using thematic coding and affinity mapping, leading to the creation of personas, empathy maps, and journey maps that highlighted the experiences and challenges faced by expectant mothers.

Result

The analysis revealed four major barriers to accessing maternal healthcare

  1. Poverty: Household income was often prioritized for basic needs over healthcare.
  2. Cost and quality of care: Mothers faced a choice between expensive private care and under-resourced public hospitals.
  3. Lack of trust in the government system: Poor infrastructure and staff shortages eroded trust in public facilities.
  4. Cultural and gender norms: Husbands played a critical role in influencing their wives’ access to healthcare information and services.

The students came up with a few strategies to address these barriers and improve Nigeria’s current maternal healthcare situation. The proposed interventions were grouped into short and long-term strategies as detailed below:

Proposed Interventions:

  • Short-term solutions included SMS-based education, engaging husbands in maternal care education, and providing accessible, easy-to-understand health information.
  • Long-term strategies focused on promoting financial literacy, developing affordable insurance, improving healthcare infrastructure, and creating accountability-driven rating systems for healthcare providers.