Integrated maternal and child health services. A study at a Rural Health Centre in Kenya

Abstract

The increasing demand for maternal and child health care in developing countries and the constraints in terms of available resources to meet this demand result in a dysfunction of the existing services. To improve Maternal and Child Health Services on a short term it is the author's contention that available resources can be used more efficiently. The system of conventional Maternal and Child Health Services operating at health centres in Kenya until the early seventies is described and analyzed. An alternative system called the Integrated Maternal and Child Health Clinic--an extension of Morley's proposals for the Under-Fives Clinic--is described and its potential advantages and disadvantages reviewed. A study was carried out in 1971--1975 at a rural health centre where the new system was introduced in 1973. It was found that the new system has several advantages but some aspects did not come up to expectations; also some disadvantages were identified. Implications for planning and management of health services, for staff training and for health services research are discussed.