Maternal Healthcare Access in Kibera: Strengthening Community-Based Support

Access to maternal healthcare remains an important challenge for women living in informal settlements in Kenya. Kibera, in Nairobi County, is one such community where access to timely and adequate antenatal care remains a concern. A recent study of women living in Kibera found that although almost all women attended antenatal care at least once, only 66.8% had four or more visits, while just 4.5% had eight or more visits. The study also found that only 30% began antenatal care during the first trimester, showing that early and continuous access to maternal healthcare remains a challenge.
Adequate antenatal care provides an important opportunity to monitor the health of mothers and babies, identify potential complications early, provide preventive care and ensure that women receive appropriate health information throughout pregnancy. However, women living in informal settlements can face several barriers to accessing and continuing with maternal healthcare, including transport costs, distance, waiting times, household responsibilities, limited information and difficulties navigating available health services.
UHDP works with underserved communities to improve access to essential health information and services, with particular attention to women, children and other vulnerable groups. Through its community health outreach activities, we provide maternal health education, basic health screening, information on the importance of early and regular antenatal care, postnatal support and referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities.
UHDP's community-based approach helps bring essential health information closer to women who may experience barriers when accessing formal healthcare facilities. Health education sessions provide women with information on pregnancy care, the importance of attending antenatal appointments, nutrition, birth preparedness, maternal and newborn health, danger signs during pregnancy, and the importance of seeking professional medical assistance when complications or concerns arise.
UHDP works with community health workers and local health facilities to strengthen the connection between women in the community and the formal healthcare system. Community health workers support the identification of pregnant women who may be missing antenatal appointments and help connect them with appropriate health services. This community-level engagement strengthens referral pathways and encourages women to seek timely professional care.
The Community Health Outreach programme also extends beyond antenatal care. UHDP provides postnatal health information and support, helping mothers access information on maternal recovery, newborn care, breastfeeding, nutrition and the recognition of warning signs requiring medical attention. By supporting women across the antenatal and postnatal periods, UHDP promotes continuity of maternal and newborn health support. Through sustained community engagement, health education, screening and referral support, we help bridge the gap between women in underserved communities and the healthcare services available to them, contributing to improved access to essential maternal and child health support.