Lived Experiences And Support Systems For Maternal Near- Miss Patients At The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Maternal Morbidity (MMb) of which Maternal Near-Miss (MNM) is a major constituent, receives less attention compared with Maternal Mortality (MMt) despite its greater contribution to the global burden of poor maternal health of an estimated 27 million cases annually. The nature of Maternal Near-Miss (MNM) serves as proxy for the study of MMt and thus, for assessing quality maternal health, the experiences of MNM patients give an indication of the support system required to promote healthy life of the women concerned. This study explored the lived experiences and support systems available to MNM patients at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), as well as experiences of Primary Caregivers (PCGs), perspectives and experiences of Healthcare Workers (HCWs) of MNMPatients, and the support systems available to MNM patients. Using a phenomenological study design, 15 MNM patients, 5 HCWs and 13 PCGs were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic content analysis was done using the Collaizi’s seven distinctive steps. The main findings were that MNM patients experienced physical, psychological/emotional, social and financial consequences that disrupted the physical, psychological, social and financial domains of their lives. These were mediated by support from their families, spouses, HCWs/facilities, religious bodies and NGOs. It was observed that the various forms of support provided were not coordinated. Therefore, there is the need for the coordination of stakeholders’ support to ensure a quality support system for MNM patients. Results of the study suggest the need to strengthen healthcare activities on MNM and thereby ensure an improvement in support to MNM patients at the facility and community levels.