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Challenges in Accessing Mother and Child HealthCare, Baidoa- Somalia

Baidoa, a town located in the Bay region of the SouthWest state of Somalia, is a hotspot, hosting nearly quarter of a million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The region has been facing significant healthcare challenges due to prolonged conflict and instability, compromised infrastructure, scarce resources, and a critical shortage of trained medical professionals. Maternal and Child Healthcare remains a significant concern in Somalia, one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. The delay in seeking healthcare, causing complications, can be attributed to a combination of various socio-economic factors. Including, timely decision-making to seek healthcare, which mainly lies with the man or an elder in the family as a set norm. Such practices combined with poverty makes it further difficult for them to afford transportation and other healthcare expenses. Moreover, the lack of awareness about the importance of antenatal care and the potential risks of delaying seeking healthcare also contribute to the problem, play a significant role in the delay in seeking healthcare among pregnant women in the Bay region. There is a lack of medical care in this area as only two hospitals in Baidoa are dealing with the growing number of IDPs.

MSBSTO45709

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