Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Millennium Development Goals are the 21st Century worlds’ concern to improve human way of
life by 2015. In Kenya the Millennium Development Goals for reduction of maternal and child mortality has
been recently powered by the beyond zero initiative which started in the year 2014 with the aim of reducing
mortality as well as contributing towards promotion of maternal health for new born and children. Maternal
mortality ratio and neonatal mortality rate trends in Kenya have remained unacceptably high in a decade. In 2007,
the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation adopted a community health strategy to reverse the poor health
outcomes in order to meet Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The study aimed at evaluating the
Millennium Development Goals its effectiveness reduction of maternal and child death in Kenya. Methods: The
study was done in 2015; Survey design was used in this study in Narok County. The target population comprised
of mothers with children below five years of age in Narok County. Purposive random sampling was used to
arrive at 150 as the accessible population. Questionnaires and interview guides were employed as data collection
tools. Face validity of instruments was determined by Maasai Mara University specialist lecturers and health
care workers in the clinic while reliability was tested by computing reliability coefficient. Data was analyzed
with the aid of statistical package for social science (SPSS); at Maasai Mara University. Results: The study
findings showed that 39% reduction of mortality rate. Statistic significant of (p<0.05) was observed. Since the
start of millennium development goals there has been reduction of child mortality and also improved maternal
health. In Narok the four recommended antenatal visits was realized but was still low at 50.5%. Deliveries at the
hospital and clinic assisted by skilled health care workers were 44%. Testing for HIV during pregnancy 81.5%)
and exclusive breastfeeding 36%). Conclusion: Increase in significance essential maternal and neonatal care
practices demonstrates that, community health strategy is an appropriate platform to deliver community based
interventions. The findings will be used by actors in the child survival community to improve current approaches,
policies and practice in maternal and neonatal care. Study recommends that there should be a follow up protocol
in projects put forward to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are sustained in Narok County and
other areas.
Key words: Beyond Zero Campaign, Maternal and Child Mortality, Narok County, Mobile Clinics, Millennium
Development Goals.
