Chronicling Untold Stories of Accessing Maternal Healthcare Services among Low-Income Residents of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe

The study explores women's lived experience regarding maternal health care services and the challenges women face in accessing maternal health care services at Chitungwiza Hospital in Zimbabwe. The researchers adopted a qualitative case study research design to answer the research questions. The target populations were women of childbearing age and the staff at Chitungwiza Hospital. A sample of 25 participants was targeted using convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Data was collected using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and documentary analysis. Based on these findings, this study concluded that women in Chitungwiza face a lot of sociocultural and economic challenges when accessing maternal healthcare services. They face several challenges, including distance, education level, economic hardships, and sociocultural and administrative challenges. Patriarchal has also led some women to be voiceless; hence, there is a need for relevant institutions such as the government to spearhead gender mainstreaming to counteract such challenges. A multi-stakeholder approach is recommended for service provision in low-income towns such as Chitungwiza.