Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 9–16
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000102

Review Article

Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

Grace Akello¹, Aisha Namubiru²

¹Department of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
²Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

Abstract: Post-conflict reconstruction in northern Uganda continues to grapple with severe maternal health disparities, disproportionately affecting displaced and rural women. This systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2018 to 2025 examining infrastructural decay, skilled birth attendant shortages, and obstetric fistula prevalence in the Acholi sub-region. Synthesizing data across 24 empirical studies, the review notes that emergency obstetric referral times exceed 3.5 hours on average, contributing to a maternal mortality ratio estimated at 385 per 100,000 live births. Findings indicate that rebuilding physical clinics is insufficient without addressing community-level distrust in formal health systems and integrating traditional birth attendants into the primary healthcare referral matrix. Furthermore, gender-based violence linked to historical conflict trauma exacerbates psychological distress during pregnancy. The paper advocates for decentralized maternal health interventions, mobile obstetric units, and community-led psychosocial support systems tailored to post-conflict realities.

Keywords: Maternal health, post-conflict reconstruction, rural healthcare, obstetric fistula, northern Uganda

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 18, 2025; Revised: December 02, 2025; Accepted: December 18, 2025; Published: January 15, 2026

Citation: Akello, G., & Namubiru, A. (2026). Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 9–16. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000102

Subscribe to read the full article: https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read