Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has moved a motion that seeks to cushion mothers from alleged mistreatment during childbirth.
Wamuchomba raised concern that even though the Constitution guarantees a right to the highest attainable standards of healthcare, women still get poor quality health services, especially maternity care.
She claimed women experience violence in health facilities before and after giving birth.
According to Wamuchomba, there has been an increased pre and postpartum mistreatment and dehumanized care of women (obstetric violence) by healthcare providers in the country.
These, Wamuchomba claimed, include disrespectful and abusive behaviour, physical and verbal abuse, neglect, forced medical procedures, humiliation and assault in healthcare settings.
She noted that the experience the women go through has been worsened by class differences where the poor are the most affected by the vice.
“Class-based disparities shape different maternal and infant health outcomes with women of low socioeconomic status mostly experiencing greater levels of OBV,” Wamuchomba said.
“I am further concerned that this is not only affecting women’s physical and mental health but also impacts the overall health outcomes of mothers and their newborns significantly contributing to higher mortality rates.”
The legislature now wants the Ministry of Health to develop a policy on the prevention of OBV in hospitals across the country.
“Cognizant to the fact that there is no existing policy or framework to address nd prevent OBV, therefore, this house resolves that the national government through the Ministry of Health develops a policy on prevention of OBV in healthcare facilities,” she said.
The policy, according to Wamuchomba, will help in the regular monitoring and reporting of cases of pre and post-obstetric violence among women seeking services in health facilities in the country.
In November, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights raised concern over poor healthcare services.
“The quality of healthcare services in public hospitals is grossly wanting as patients are offered sub-standard services owing to poor infrastructure, lack of essential medicines and lack of human personnel,” KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede said.
It noted that patients are offered sub-standard services owing to poor infrastructure, lack of essential medicines and lack of human personnel.
Health experts have in the recent past also expressed concern over the country’s stagnation in eliminating deaths among newborns.
They further noted that there has been a drop in rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among mothers, attributing it to shortcomings in the healthcare sector.
