Maternal Mortality in Kenya_ Why Are Mothers Still at Risk Despite Healthcare Advancements

1. Maternal Mortality in Kenya: Why Are Mothers Still at Risk Despite Healthcare Advancements? Maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge in Kenya, despite advancements in healthcare infrastructure, maternal care programs, and improved access to skilled birth attendants. While the country has made progress in reducing maternal deaths, many mothers still face life-threatening complications due to gaps in emergency care, limited healthcare access, and systemic inefficiencies. One of the key figures addressing these challenges is Jayesh Saini, a healthcare entrepreneur whose contributions through Lifecare Hospitals and Bliss Healthcare have significantly improved maternal healthcare accessibility, emergency response systems, and specialized care for high-risk pregnancies. This case study analyzes why maternal mortality persists in Kenya, identifies gaps in emergency care, and explores how hospitals are working to mitigate maternal health risks.

2. 1. The State of Maternal Mortality in Kenya Kenya’s Progress in Reducing Maternal Mortality Over the last decade, Kenya has made notable improvements in maternal health outcomes. Key achievements include: ●A decline in maternal mortality rates from 488 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 355 in 2022. ●Increased skilled birth attendance, rising from 44% in 2008 to over 62% in 2020. ●Expanded maternity care services, with more women accessing antenatal and postnatal care. Despite these improvements, maternal deaths remain unacceptably high, with preventable complications continuing to pose a serious risk to mothers and newborns. Key Causes of Maternal Mortality in Kenya The leading causes of maternal deaths in Kenya include: 1. Postpartum Hemorrhage (Excessive Bleeding) – The most common cause of maternal deaths, accounting for 34% of cases. 2. Severe Preeclampsia and Eclampsia – High blood pressure disorders that can cause fatal complications. 3. Sepsis (Infections During Pregnancy or After Birth) – Often linked to poor hygiene, delayed treatment, and lack of skilled care. 4. Obstructed Labor and Unsafe Abortions – Resulting in organ failure, hemorrhage, and long-term reproductive complications. 5. Delays in Emergency Obstetric Care – Many mothers experience fatal delays in reaching hospitals for lifesaving interventions. Despite healthcare advancements, many low-income and rural women still lack access to emergency maternal care, leading to preventable deaths.

3. 2. Gaps in Emergency Obstetric Care and Healthcare Access Challenges in Maternal Healthcare Delivery Kenya faces several challenges in ensuring timely and effective maternal healthcare, including: ●Inadequate emergency transport systems, delaying urgent medical interventions. ●Shortages of blood supplies, increasing the risk of hemorrhage-related deaths. ●Lack of access to specialized maternal care, particularly in rural and underserved regions. ●Understaffed and overburdened maternity wards, limiting quality of care. ●Gaps in postnatal follow-up care, increasing risks of infections and complications.

4. These challenges disproportionately affect low-income mothers, making it difficult to prevent pregnancy-related fatalities. 3. How Hospitals Are Addressing Maternal Mortality Risks Expanding Access to Specialized Maternal Care Private hospitals and healthcare entrepreneurs have played a key role in bridging maternal healthcare gaps, providing specialized, affordable, and timely medical interventions. Lifecare Hospitals: A Case Study in Maternal Healthcare Innovation Under Jayesh Saini’s leadership, Lifecare Hospitals has focused on improving maternal health outcomes by: ●Expanding maternity wards across multiple Lifecare hospitals, ensuring access to specialized obstetric care. ●Launching high-risk pregnancy units, managing conditions like preeclampsia, diabetes, and premature labor. ●Integrating emergency response systems, reducing delays in maternal care.

5. ●Training more midwives and maternal healthcare specialists, improving skilled birth attendance rates. These efforts have significantly enhanced emergency obstetric services, reducing maternal deaths in high-risk pregnancies. Emergency Transport Systems and Blood Bank Access One of the biggest contributors to maternal deaths is delayed emergency response. Many mothers die en route to hospitals due to: ●Poor emergency referral systems. ●Lack of ambulance services in rural areas. ●Inadequate access to blood transfusions, leading to preventable deaths from postpartum hemorrhage. How Lifecare Hospitals Is Improving Emergency Response ●Established emergency maternity care units, ensuring 24/7 readiness for critical cases. ●Strengthened partnerships with blood banks, reducing maternal deaths caused by excessive bleeding.

6. ●Deployed more ambulances in rural areas, ensuring faster hospital transfers for high-risk pregnancies. By addressing delays in maternal emergency care, hospitals are improving survival rates for expectant mothers. Affordable Maternal Healthcare Through Insurance and Subsidized Services A major barrier to quality maternal care is the high cost of treatment, particularly for low-income mothers who cannot afford hospital-based deliveries. How Lifecare Hospitals and NHIF Are Improving Maternal Care Affordability Under Jayesh Saini’s leadership, Lifecare Hospitals has partnered with NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund) to:

7. ●Offer subsidized maternity services, ensuring more women can afford safe deliveries. ●Cover emergency obstetric procedures, reducing out-of-pocket expenses. ●Expand insurance coverage for prenatal and postnatal care, improving long-term maternal health outcomes. By making quality maternal care more affordable, Kenya is ensuring that more women receive the medical attention they need before, during, and after childbirth. Improving Postnatal and Neonatal Care to Reduce Infant and Maternal Deaths Maternal health does not end at delivery—postnatal care is critical in preventing maternal complications and ensuring newborn survival.

8. Lifecare Hospitals’ Neonatal and Postnatal Care Enhancements ●Established Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to manage preterm births and high-risk newborns. ●Expanded postnatal follow-up programs, identifying and managing postpartum infections and complications early. ●Educating new mothers on postnatal care, ensuring better maternal and infant health. By improving postnatal support, hospitals are reducing preventable maternal deaths after childbirth.

9. 4. The Future of Maternal Healthcare in Kenya: What Comes Next? Despite progress in maternal healthcare, Kenya must continue investing in sustainable solutions to eliminate preventable maternal deaths. Key Recommendations for Reducing Maternal Mortality 1. Expand Emergency Obstetric Services ○More specialized maternity care units in hospitals. ○Increased ambulance availability in rural areas. ○Stronger blood bank networks to manage hemorrhage cases. 2. Enhance Access to Affordable Maternal Healthcare ○Strengthen NHIF maternity coverage. ○Increase subsidized services for low-income mothers. ○Expand public-private maternal care partnerships. 3. Improve Digital Health Solutions for Maternal Care ○Telemedicine consultations for expectant mothers. ○AI-driven maternal health risk assessments. ○Mobile health applications for maternal health education. By implementing these critical reforms, Kenya can reduce maternal mortality rates and set a healthcare model for other African nations. Conclusion Maternal mortality remains a serious challenge in Kenya, but innovative hospital initiatives, emergency care improvements, and insurance coverage expansion are driving progress.

10. Jayesh Saini’s contributions through Lifecare Hospitals have played a pivotal role in reducing maternal deaths, ensuring that more mothers receive quality, timely, and affordable maternal healthcare. With continued investments in specialized care, emergency response systems, and postnatal services, Kenya can achieve safer pregnancies and healthier mothers across the country.