Kenyan mothers are likely to continue dying from preventable conditions, with the latest data showing that over 70 deaths per 100,000 live births will still be recorded in the coming years.

Kenya missed out on Millennium Development Goals (SDG) 4 and 5 on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health in 2015, and now it is doubtful SDG 3 will be achieved.

This SDG is aimed at promoting the well-being and health of all people at all ages. But a new study paints a grim picture of the situation especially on mothers.

The study, a three-year project covering three countries – Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria – and whose results were released recently shows that Kenya is on track to achieving a reduction in the maternal mortality rate to less than 70 deaths per 100, 000 live births by 2030.

“Historically, Kenya has achieved an annual reduction rate for maternal mortality rate of 1 percent,” says the study by the African Institute for Development Policy.

XSustained efforts

The study calls for reviving the strategies that helped reduce maternal deaths from 470 to 382 per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2020.

To achieve SDG 3 on maternal deaths, the study recommends that Kenya must strive to attain an annual reduction rate to 17 percent.

“This emphasises the urgent need for strategic and sustained efforts in maternal healthcare and mortality reduction initiatives,” said the study.

These findings spotlight urgent areas for action to ensure accessible, quality healthcare services for mothers, newborns, and children across Kenya.

The “Back-on-Track project’ builds a data-driven roadmap of essential interventions that can transform lives on a large scale, said Dr Michael Chipeta, the project lead.

“By prioritising the availability, accessibility, quality, and utilisation of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) services, we aim to address critical challenges in Kenya and drive meaningful progress toward achieving SDG 3,” he said in Nairobi yesterday.

The project’s findings underscore the impact of Covid-19 on the utilisation of maternal and newborn health services. While national child immunisation coverage remained largely resilient, eight counties saw a significant decline in antenatal care visits, and several recorded decreases in skilled birth attendance.

These disparities, according to several experts commenting on the findings, underscore the need for more resilient health systems that can withstand future crises.

The research indicates substantial variations in maternal and child healthcare access at sub-national levels, with disruptions most prominent in underserved regions across Kenya.

Health priorities

The project aligns with Kenya’s health priorities and provides the government with clear evidence on where focus needs to be, said Dr Edward Serem, head of the division of reproductive and maternal health at the Ministry of Health.

Areas of focus include maternal mortality, child vaccination coverage, and reproductive health services.

“As we move closer to 2030, achieving SDG 3 is urgent, and these insights are invaluable for aligning our health programmes with these goals,” he said in a speech delivered by Dr Estella Waiguru.

The findings reveal a mix of achievements and areas needing critical attention.

But the good news is that Kenya is on track to achieving SDG 3 targets in neonatal and under-five mortality reduction, skilled birth attendance, and family planning demand satisfied through modern contraceptives.