Completion of the maternal continuum of care and its association with antenatal care attendance during previous pregnancy among women in rural areas of the Gurage Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Objective The maternal continuum of care is a cost-effective intervention to prevent pregnancy and childbirth-related maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of completion of the maternal continuum of care and its association with antenatal care (ANC) attendance during previous pregnancy among women in rural kebeles of Gurage Zone, […]
Socio-cultural factors influencing the decision of women to seek care during pregnancy and delivery: A qualitative study in South Tongu District, Ghana
Many low-income countries still encounter high mortality rates. The use of maternal health care services is known to be a key intervention in reducing maternal death. Despite investment in the healthcare sector, in 2015 Ghana did not meet the Millennium Development Goal 5 of reducing maternal mortality (MM). The Volta Region registered the highest rate […]
Accessibility and Utilisation of Maternal Health Services by Migrant Female Head Porters in Accra
Accessibility to maternal health care by marginalised groups, such as poor migrant women, has remained an issue of concern in Ghana. While a number of studies have been conducted on the livelihoods of migrant female head porters (Kayayei) in cities in Southern Ghana, there is little understanding of their accessibility and utilisation of maternal health […]
Assessment of maternal near-miss and quality of care in a hospital-based study in Accra, Ghana
Objective To assess the baseline incidence of maternal near-miss, process indicators related to facility access, and quality of care at a tertiary care facility in urban Ghana. Methods A prospective observational study of all women delivering at the facility, including those with pregnancy-related complications, was conducted between October 2010 and March 2011. Quality of maternal […]
Quality of caesarean delivery: A cross-sectional study in 12 hospitals in Benin
Background Caesarean section (CS) is a major obstetric intervention, widely recognized as an effective means to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, when appropriately performed. CS numbers and rates are regularly published but quality is rarely taken into account. This study aims to describe the quality of caesarean delivery in selected hospitals in Benin. Methods A […]
Income Transfers and Maternal Health: Evidence from a National Randomized Social Cash Transfer Program in Zambia
There is promising recent evidence that poverty-targeted social cash transfers have potential to improve maternal health outcomes; however, questions remain surrounding design features responsible for impacts. In addition, virtually no evidence exists from the African region. This study explores the impact of Zambia’s Child Grant Program on a range of maternal health utilization outcomes using […]
Improving surveillance for maternal and perinatal health in 2 districts of rural Tanzania
Objectives. As part of a community-based reproductive health project in rural Tanzania, a maternal and perinatal health care surveillance system was established to monitor pregnancy outcomes. This report presents preliminary results. Methods. Village health workers were trained to collect data during health education visits to pregnant and postpartum women. Maternal and fetal or infant survival […]
Measurement approaches in continuum of care for maternal health: A critical interpretive synthesis of evidence from LMICs and its implications for the South African context
Background: Global strategies recommend a continuum of care for maternal health to improve outcomes and access to care in low and middle income countries (LMICs). South Africa has already set priority interventions along the continuum of care for maternal health, and mandated their implementation at the district health level. However, the approach for monitoring access […]
Multilevel analysis of factors associated with assistance during delivery in rural Nigeria: Implications for reducing rural-urban inequity in skilled care at delivery
Background: Studies have observed rural-urban inequity in the use of skilled delivery in Nigeria. A number of studies have explicitly examined associated factors of assistance during delivery in rural areas. However, the studies so far conducted in rural Nigeria have investigated mainly individual-level characteristics with near exclusion of community-level characteristics. Also, most of the studies […]
Determinants of failure to access care in mothers referred to HIV treatment programs in Nairobi, Kenya
Background. As prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs and HIV treatment programs rapidly expand in parallel, it is important to determine factors that influence the transition of HIV-infected women from maternal to continuing care. Design. This study aimed to determine rates and co-factors of accessing HIV care by HIV-infected women exiting maternal care. […]
