Structural barriers to maternity care in Cameroon: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Maternal Health
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Cameroon faces high maternal and perinatal mortality rates globally.
• A qualitative assessment was conducted to understand structural barriers affecting maternity care.
• This study informed the adaptation of a mobile provider-to-provider intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify structural barriers to maternal care in Cameroon.
• To guide the adaptation of the mobile Medical Information Service via Telephone (mMIST) program.
• To explore the interplay of factors impacting maternity services in a low-resource setting.

Main Methods:

• In-depth interviews and focus groups with 56 stakeholders.
• Participants included pregnant women, healthcare providers, administrators, and Ministry of Health representatives.
• Thematic coding and modified grounded theory analysis were performed using NVivo12.

Main Results:

• Three primary structural barriers were identified: civil unrest, healthcare system limitations, and inadequate physical infrastructure.
• Civil unrest impacted security and transportation; healthcare system issues included personnel/equipment shortages and poor communication; inadequate infrastructure involved power outages and facility distribution.
• These barriers collectively impede access to and utilization of maternity services.

Conclusions:

• Interconnected structural factors create significant barriers to maternity care in Cameroon.
• Policy implementation and targeted interventions are essential to overcome these barriers.
• Addressing structural impediments is necessary for improving access to and quality of maternal healthcare.