Assessment of MNCH Services Provided by Private Health Care Providers in Kibra Sub-County of Nairobi County

In Kenya, as in many African countries, the healthcare landscape is made up of both public and private health care providers (PHCPs). Often, it is where clients – including those who live in informal settlements – first seek care. This care is typically delivered by a range of providers, including well-established health centers, small clinics, chemists and herbalists. Considerable resources are expended – even by the poor – in accessing these services, often because they are close-by, open for longer hours, and are seen as more considerate and sometimes less expensive than their public sector counterparts. Consequently, they are a critical component of the health care landscape, and therefore an important player in the Kenya government’s effort to improve the performance of the health system.

The objective of this study was to document the role of private providers in delivering basic health services in a large informal settlement, and identify specific ways in which the public and private sector could work together to enhance – and improve – the availability, quality and use of these services.