Challenges and successes of distributing birth kits with misoprostol to reduce maternal mortality in rural Tanzania
The Saving Mothers Project was conducted from September 2015 to March 2017 in Bunda and Tarime Districts, Mara Region, Tanzania. The purpose of this project was to train community health workers (CHWs) to use mobile phones applications to register and educate pregnant women about safe deliveries and encourage them to access skilled health care providers […]
Lessons learnt from enrolment and follow up of pregnant women and their infants in clinical trials in South Africa, a low-middle income country
Introduction: Infectious causes are a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in neonates and young infants. Immunization of pregnant women to protect the mother and/or her infant is gaining momentum due to the benefits of this strategy demonstrated in numerous implemented strategies (Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination Initiative) and clinical trials.Reluctance by regulators, participants and […]
A systematic review of qualitative evidence on barriers and facilitators to the implementation of task-shifting in midwifery services
Objective: to synthesise qualitative research on task-shifting to and from midwives to identify barriers and facilitators to successful implementation. Design: systematic review of qualitative evidence using a 4-stage narrative synthesis approach. We searched the CINAHL, Medline and the Social Science Citation Index databases. Study quality was assessed and evidence was synthesised using a theory-informed comparative […]
Assessment of mobile health technology for maternal and child health services in rural Upper West Region of Ghana
Objectives: This study assessed the perspectives of women and health workers on the feasibility of using mobile health technology (mHealth) for the provision of maternal and child health services in rural settings of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Study design: The study used a mixed-design approach of quantitative and qualitative methods. Methods: Interviewer-administered questionnaires, […]
Reproductive health for refugees by refugees in Guinea III: Maternal health
Background: Maternal mortality can be particularly high in conflict and chronic emergency settings, partly due to inaccessible maternal care. This paper examines associations of refugee-led health education, formal education, age, and parity on maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices among reproductive-age women in refugee camps in Guinea. Methods. Data comes from a 1999 cross-sectional survey of […]
Unintended pregnancies and the use of maternal health services in southwestern Ethiopia
Background: The benefits of maternal health care to maternal and neonatal health outcomes have been well documented. Antenatal care attendance, institutional delivery and skilled attendance at delivery all help to improve maternal and neonatal health. However, use of maternal health services is still very low in developing countries with high maternal mortality including Ethiopia. This […]
The quality of free antenatal and delivery services in Northern Sierra Leone
Background: The number of maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa continues to be overwhelmingly high. In West Africa, Sierra Leone leads the list, with the highest maternal mortality ratio. In 2010, financial barriers were removed as an incentive for more women to use available antenatal, delivery and postnatal services. Few published studies have examined the quality […]
Lived experiences of women who developed uterine rupture following severe obstructed labor in Mulago hospital, Uganda
Background: Maternal mortality is a major public health challenge in Uganda. Whereas uterine rupture remains a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, there is limited research into what happens to women who survive such severe obstetric complications. Understanding their experiences might delineate strategies to support survivors. Methods. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach […]
Maternal and perinatal outcomes among maternity waiting home users and non-users in rural Rwanda
Most maternal and perinatal deaths could be prevented through timely access to skilled birth attendants. Women should access appropriate obstetric care during pregnancy, labor, and puerperium. Maternity waiting homes (MWHs) permit access to emergency obstetric care when labor starts. This study compared maternal and perinatal outcomes among MWH users and nonusers through a retrospective cohort […]
Innovations in maternal and child health: Case studies from Uganda
Background: Nearly 300 children and 20 mothers die from preventable causes daily, in Uganda. Communities often identify and introduce pragmatic and lasting solutions to such challenging health problems. However, little is known of these solutions beyond their immediate surroundings. If local and pragmatic innovations were scaled-up, they could contribute to better health outcomes for larger […]
