Discussion Paper No. 165 of 2014 on Predictors of Availability of Maternal Health Medicines in Kenya's Health Facilities

Abstract

This study examines the state of and factors that influence the availability of two maternal health medicines–oxytocin and misoprostol–in Kenya’s health facilities that offer basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC). These medicines are used to prevent and treat post-partum haemorrhage, which (at 25%) is the leading cause of maternal mortality in Kenya.The study made use of the Kenya Public Expenditure Tracking and Service Delivery Indicators Survey (PETS+) data collected by KIPPRA in 2012 for the Ministry of Health. Using a survey logit model, the study found that the availability of oxytocin and misoprostol in BEmOC facilities is significantly determined by: the location of the facility, the type of health facility, the owner of facility (government or private not-for-profit organizations), availability of maternity waiting room in facilities, the type of procurement system used, the number of deliveries, delivery charges, amount of funds received by facilities for medical drugs, prompt procurement of out-of-stock medicines, and the number of health workers involved in the management of essential medicines and medical supplies.Based on the findings, this study recommends: development of a scale-up strategy for misoprostol in BEmOC facilities; enhancing the distribution of maternal health medicines to all BEmOC facilities so that they meet the WHO standards of a BEmOC facility; establishment of maternity waiting rooms in or near BEmOC facilities; increasing the budgetary allocations to essential medicines; encouraging the utilization of maternal health medicines through awareness creation programmes; strengthening the procurement function of health facilities; and intensifying the training of health workers on administration of maternal health medicines.