Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in Kigoma, Tanzania: A 13-Year Initiative

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Maternal Health
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• The Program to Reduce Maternal Deaths in Tanzania operated for 13 years (2006-2019) in the Kigoma region.
• It aimed to enhance the availability, accessibility, and demand for high-quality maternal and reproductive health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve and sustain maternal and reproductive health care services in a low-resource setting.
• To decentralize high-quality care closer to communities and assess program effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A phased, 13-year intervention focused on improving maternal and reproductive health services.
• Routine monitoring and evaluation data collection was integral throughout the program.
• The program transitioned to Government of Tanzania oversight in 2019.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in maternal and perinatal mortality rates.
• A notable increase in the modern contraceptive prevalence rate.
• A substantial decline in the unmet need for contraception.

Conclusions:

• Multistakeholder partnerships, robust data utilization, and a proactive sustainability strategy are crucial for reducing maternal mortality.
• Decentralizing high-quality maternal and reproductive health services in remote, low-resource settings is feasible and effective.
• Embedding programs within existing health systems and building local capacity are key to sustained improvements.