Trends in Concurrent Maternal and Perinatal Deaths at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana: The Facts and Prevention Strategies
Objectives: To determine the trend of concurrent maternal and perinatal mortality at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana, and to propose measures for its prevention.Methods: A retrospective study, from January 1995 to December 2002, of all concurrent maternal and perinatal deaths in which the woman was 28 weeks’ gestation or more (or, if gestational age […]
Cultural perceptions influencing obstetric complications among women in Kaduna, Northwestern Nigeria
Background: Maternal mortality remains a public health challenge despite the global progress made toward its reduction. Cultural beliefs and traditional practices contribute to delays and poor access to maternal health services. This study examined cultural perceptions influencing obstetric complications among women who delivered at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Tudun-Wada, Kaduna. Methodology: The study was a […]
The impact of national health promotion policy on stillbirth and maternal mortality in South Africa
Objectives: In 2015, the South African government implemented the national health promotion policy (NHPP), intending to reduce stillbirth and maternal mortality. This study was designed to quantify the impact of the NHPP on stillbirth and maternal mortality in both the South African population and immigrant citizens. Study design: This was a panel analysis using secondary […]
Retrospective review of maternal deaths in Hawassa Comprehensive Specialised Hospital, in Southern Ethiopia
The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of and contributors to maternal death at Hawassa Referral Comprehensive Specialised Hospital (HRCSH). A health facility–based, maternal death review was used. All maternal deaths that occurred between January 2016 and August 2017 in HRCSH were included. Data were collected using a structured data collection sheet […]
Emergency obstetric care as the priority intervention to reduce maternal mortality in Uganda
Purpose: We conducted a survey to determine availability of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) to provide baseline data for monitoring provision of obstetric care services in Uganda. Methods: The survey, covering 54 districts and 553 health facilities, assessed availability of EmOC signal functions. Following this, performance improvement process was implemented in 20 district hospitals to scale-up […]
Discrepancies between national maternal mortality data and international estimates: The experience of Papua New Guinea
Over the past 30 years maternal mortality estimates for Papua New Guinea have varied widely. There is no mandatory vital registration in PNG, and 85% of the population live in rural areas with limited or no access to health services. Demographic Health Survey data for PNG estimates the maternal mortality ratio to be 370 deaths […]
Geographic information system-based evaluation of spatial accessibility to maternal health facilities in Siaya County, Kenya
Maternal mortality is a major problem in middle-income and low-income countries, and the availability and accessibility of healthcare facilities offering safe delivery is important in averting maternal deaths. Siaya County, in Kenya, has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country—far more than the national average. This study aimed to evaluate geographic access […]
Despite Access to Antiretrovirals for Prevention and Treatment, High Rates of Mortality Persist among HIV-infected Infants and Young Children
Background: Outcomes of HIV-infected children before widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) have been well characterized but less is known about children who acquire HIV infection in the context of good ART access. Methods: We enrolled newly diagnosed HIV-infected children ≤24 months of age at 3 hospitals […]
ICTs and maternal healthcare utilization. Evidence from Ghana
Purpose – Traditionally, the role of technology on health services has been argued from the supply side. The purpose of this paper is to use a demand side perspective to examine the effect of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the use of maternal health services in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – Study used data from the […]
Access to skilled attendant at birth and the coverage of the third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine across 14 West African countries – An equity analysis
Background: Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains a critical public health goal that continues to elude many countries of the global south. As countries strive for its attainment, it is important to track progress in various subregions of the world to understand current levels and mechanisms of progress for shared learning. Our aim was to compare […]
