Factors Influencing Adherence to National Guidelines on Emergency Obstetric Care and Associated Outcomes among Pregnant Mothers and Newborns in Samburu Centralsub-County

Every day about 830 women die due to complications of pregnancy and child birth. Of the 830 daily maternal deaths, 550 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and 180 in Southern Asia, compared to 5 in developed countries. The risk of a woman in a developing country dying from maternal-related causes during her lifetime is about 33 times higher compared to a woman living in a developed country. This has been attributed to many factors including cultural knowledge systems. However it is not quite clear how this has influenced adherence to National Guidelines on Emergency obstetric care and associated outcomes among pregnant mothers and Newborns. The current concern in Samburu Central Sub-county among parents and other stakeholders in health sector is that, adherence to national guidelines on emergency obstetric care and associated outcomes among pregnant mothers and newborns was more likely to be negatively affected. This study was sort to determine the effect of factors influencing adherence to national guidelines on emergency obstetric care and associated outcomes among pregnant mothers and newborns in Samburu Central Sub-county. This was a descriptive survey research in nature with specific use of cross-sectional retrospect use study design involving a review of maternity records for the last six months in each of the Health facilities in Samburu Central Sub-County. In addition, key-information interviews were conducted among the officers in-charge of each Health facility to determine their facility level factors associated with adherence to National guidelines on Emergency obstetric care. A checklist was also used to inspect the infrastructure in Health facilities on provision of emergency obstetric care to Mothers and newborns within the Health facilities. The results of the study showed that, most health facilities were poorly equipped with acute shortage of personnel trained on EMOC.The deliveries of newborns and adherence to National guidelines on Emergency Obstetric Care had no statistically significant relationships. The study also concluded that the Ministry of health should train more personnel on EMOC and also equip all the health facilities with proper maternity equipment. The findings of this study were of great benefits to the pregnant mothers, health curriculum developers and policymakers in addressing current poor adherence to national guidelines on emergency obstetric care and associated health outcomes among pregnant and newborns and also realization of strategies for boosting emergency obstetric care in health facilities countrywide.