Background: Uganda is one the leading countries around the world which account for 60% of the total number of maternal deaths globally. Following the unsuccessful trajectory of MDG 5, no comprehensive research was conducted to determine why targets were not achieved, and maternal health priorities were reorganized under SDG 3. However, the efficacy of this approach remains uncertain.
Methods: A meta-narrative review (MNR) provided insight into maternal health trajectories within Uganda prior to and during MDG 5, and informed the development of questions for key informant interviews. Interviews were conducted with 7 key informants to explore the development and implementation of maternal health policy in relation to MDG 5 and SDG 3. Thematic coding analysis was conducted using NVivo 12, in accordance with the criteria of constructivist grounded theory, to identify recurring themes.
Findings: Four major themes were identified: i) the current narrative surrounding maternal health is deterring investment in SDG 3, ii) Uganda’s fragmented health care system impedes access to maternal health care, iii) empowerment issues among women, and iv) increased collaboration efforts are needed from Uganda’s government to improve maternal health outcomes.
Implications & Contributions: Uganda has failed to advance women’s rights, as the government focusses on infrastructure development to drive economic development. However, Uganda will not progress if women continue to be oppressed and die as a result of its multifaceted maternal mortality crisis.
Implications for maternal health policy: MDG 5 and SDG 3 were imposed on Uganda and do not necessarily reflect its best interests or its collective needs related to improving its maternal health outcomes. Striving to achieve SDG 3 would likely further oppress women and disadvantage the country overall. Thus, Uganda’s government must increase multisector collaboration to develop realistic and sustainable goals towards improving maternal health outcomes to better counteract its maternal mortality crisis. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Under the lens of intersectional theory, this study aspired to determine what lessons can be learned from Uganda’s attempt to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5, related to maternal health, from 2000-2015, and also how these lessons will inform its transition to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 between 2016-2030. The barriers and challenges surrounding Uganda’s maternal health outcomes were also investigated, and four themes were found. This study demonstrates how various aspects of women’s social identities intersect and form the basis for much of the oppression they encounter surrounding their maternal health, with implications for policy-makers, health care workers, and women. Attainment of SDG 3 seems unlikely for Uganda, and also not in its best interests. Rather than attempting to meet globally developed targets to improve its maternal outcomes, Uganda should engage in multisector collaboration to enable realistic and sustainable progress in its quest to counteract its maternal mortality crisis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/25963 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Latchman, Amanda |
| Contributors | Gombay, Christy, Global Health |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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