Cultural Competence and Maternal Healthcare Satisfaction: Evidence from Kenya for Equitable and Person-Centred Maternal Healthcare
Solomon Cheboi *
School of Health Science, Mama Ngina University College (MNUC), Nairobi, Kenya.
Anastasiah Nyamilu Kimeu
Health Systems Management and Development, Amref International University (AMIU), Nairobi, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Maternal healthcare satisfaction is an important indicator of service quality because it reflects women’s experiences, expectations, and perceptions of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. This chapter presents the role of cultural competence in improving satisfaction with maternal services, with particular attention to lessons from Kenya. Drawing on an integrative review of international literature, policy documents, theoretical frameworks, and Kenyan evidence, the chapter explores how culturally responsive care contributes to respectful, equitable, and person-centred maternal care services.
The chapter is guided by the Social Ecological Model, Donabedian’s Quality of Care Framework, and established models of cultural competence and cultural humility. The evidence reviewed suggests that cultural competence influences maternal satisfaction through several related pathways, including effective communication, respectful provider–patient interactions, acknowledgement of cultural beliefs and preferences, privacy, dignity, emotional support, and patient participation in decision-making. In the Kenyan context, cultural diversity and ongoing maternal health reforms provide a relevant setting for understanding how culturally responsive maternal care can strengthen women’s trust in healthcare providers and improve perceptions of service quality.
The chapter argues that cultural competence should be understood as a core dimension of quality maternal healthcare rather than an optional addition to service delivery. Integrating cultural competence into health professions education, facility-level practices, maternal health policies, and quality improvement systems may support more acceptable and respectful maternal care. The findings indicate that culturally responsive care can contribute to better maternal care experiences, especially in multicultural settings where women’s expectations and healthcare decisions are shaped by social, cultural, and community contexts.
Keywords: Cultural competence, maternal satisfaction, respectful maternal care, healthcare quality, universal health coverage