Why expectant mothers still prefer Margaret Kenyatta Mother Baby Wing despite heavy congestion

Disturbing videos that had been circulating on social media have lifted the lid on overcrowding at the Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Wing at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital (NTRH).

In some cases, more than two mothers were caught on camera sharing beds and with them their new born also. The situation worsened during visiting hours as relatives sat on occupied beds due to limited space.

Mtaa Wangu did a spot check at the facility December 8 and confirmed the scenes shared online. At least two to three mothers, each with their newborns, were found sharing single beds in the antenatal ward as nurses struggled to manage the overwhelming number of patients.

However, a follow-up check-up Yesterday (December 9) offered a different sight at the facility’s ward C. Fewer mothers were present at the wards with some beds even remaining empty.

Mtaa Wangu went deeper to find out why the Mother and Baby wing seemed to be a darling to many expectant mothers.

From our interview it was clear that some mothers did not mind the congestion as long as they delivered their babies at Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby wing while some were taken by surprise at the congestion situation.

Mary (not her real name), a new mother admitted on Sunday, described her ordeal, saying she was shocked to find she had to share a bed with two other women and their newborns after delivery.

“It has been like this since I was admitted. The numbers kept rising. We were four women on one bed meant for one person. We had to give space to our babies. It is congested and the hospital is still receiving patients. I just pray I get discharged,” she says.

On the other hand, Sharon (not her real name), a resident in Bahati says all she wanted is to deliver her baby at the facility. She explains that she deliberately chose the facility because of its reputation for high-quality care and its ability to handle emergencies without the need for referrals.

The mother of one says she went to the hospital because she viewed it as a “one-stop shop” where everything, from surgery to neonatal care, is all available in one place.

“If anything goes wrong, there is theatre, ICU, specialists and ambulances. You don’t have to be moved again,” she says.

Ann Nyambura a mother to a one-year-old baby girl shared the same sentiments noting she was advised by other mothers that the facility is a trusted hospital because, in many smaller facilities, complications after delivery often lead to transfers due to lack of paediatricians or specialised newborn care.

Nyambura says to avoid that uncertainty, women then prefer delivering at NTRH from the start.

Some women, especially from informal settlements, also pointed to social perceptions, saying there is a sense of prestige associated with delivering at the Mother and Baby Wing.

 Jane also notes that some of the facilities have no theatre, if Cesarean Section (C-section)) was your preferred way of delivering your child then NTRH would be the hospital you would go to.

“By the time I was giving birth, Bondeni maternity did not have a theatre.  I am happy now that women in my home area can now pick it as their option. However, other women from other sub-counties hospitals without theatres will always end up at NTRH,” she explains.

In a phone interview, County Health CECM Roseline Mungai acknowledged the strain on the unit, noting that many mothers who come to the referral hospital do not require specialised care but still bypass lower-level facilities.

Beyond walk-in patients the mounting pressure also comes from referrals which has pushed the facility beyond its intended capacity.

She explains that delays in processing discharges, particularly for mothers not registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), also worsen congestion, while babies with complications can remain hospitalized for weeks, forcing their mothers to stay in the wards.

“There is a directive on the dignity of mothers and discouragement of bed-sharing. But when a woman arrives in advanced labour, you must deliver the baby. Demand is currently far beyond the capacity of the unit antenatal wing, with a bed capacity of 40,” she says.

To address the crisis, she says the county was encouraging expectant mothers to utilize Level two, three and four health facilities, which are more accessible and capable of handling normal deliveries under primary healthcare coverage.