EXPERIENCES OF MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE DURING CHILDBIRTH AMONG RURAL WOMEN IN NTENJERU SUB-COUNTY, MUKONO DISTRICT

Abstract

The study set out to research on the topic,‖lived experiences of medical negligence during childbirth among rural women in Ntenjeru sub-county, Mukono district‖ (i) The research topic was guided by three research objectives which were; To explore the mothers’ perceptions of medical negligence during childbirth among rural women.(ii)To understand the challenges faced by rural mothers who experience medical negligence during childbirth.(iii)To identify coping mechanisms which can handle challenges faced by rural mothers who experience medical negligence during childbirth. The study employed a phenomenological research design, utilizing a qualitative research approach. A total of 25 mothers who had experienced medical negligence constituted the participants for the study. Interviews were conducted with the 25 participants. Data was entered in NVivo version 14, coding was undertaken and themes were formed to make meaning out of the data. The data was analyzed thematically and presented verbatim. On objective one, the study concluded that mothers in the rural areas perceive health workers to be rude and not caring to pregnant mothers, perceived loss of trust in the government health facilities, perception on medical negligence included the cause of death for both the mother and the baby, mothers were not knowledgeable on long term effects of medical negligence, and mothers perceived medical negligence to cause trauma and anxiety. On objective two, the study concluded that, mothers received inadequate care, travelled long distances to access medical services, limited knowledge on medical negligence and financial difficulties were some of the challenges faced by the mothers. On objective three, the study concluded that, mothers coped with medical negligence by seeking second opinion of medical officers from personnel who they considered superior or more advanced in the medical field, made use of the support from family members, they utilised the help of village health teams, mothers consulted spiritual leaders to help them heal, and other mothers who could afford visited professional counsellors to help them heal. The study recommends that more sensitization is done to educate mothers on medical negligence. More recruitment of skilled health workers in government health centres