Institutional delivery in Ethiopia: Alternative options for improvement
Maternal mortality is a critical healthcare system quality indicator and is measured by the number of maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. Despite huge achievements towards reducing maternal mortality, the prevalence of maternal death remains unacceptably high in developing countries including Ethiopia. A recent study in Ethiopia reported a maternal mortality ratio of 857/100,000 […]
Are Indigenous research principles incorporated into maternal health research? A scoping review of the global literature
Background: Indigenous women world-wide are diverse and heterogenous, yet many have similar experiences of colonization, land dispossession, and discrimination. These experiences along with inequitable access to, and quality of, maternal healthcare increase adverse maternal health outcomes. To improve health outcomes for Indigenous women, studies must be conducted with Indigenous involvement and reflect Indigenous research principles. […]
Qualitative study on maternal referrals in rural Tanzania: decision making and acceptance of referral advice.
The aim of this study was to describe perceptions of maternal referrals in a rural district in Tanzania. Focus group discussions (FGDs) with health workers and community members, stratified by age and gender, were conducted. The FGDs revealed that husbands and relatives are the decision makers in maternal referrals, whereas the women had limited influence, […]
Women’s mass media exposure and maternal health awareness in Ota, Nigeria
Maternal health has been an issue of priority to nations across the globe for years now. This study sought to: identify the sources of maternal health awareness; examine means of obtaining maternal health information; determine the frequency of mass media exposure; and analyse the influence of mass media exposure on maternal health awareness among the […]
Repetition of a sisterhood survey at district level in Malawi: The challenge to achieve MDG 5
Objective: To evaluate progress made at district level in Malawi towards reaching the 5th Millennium Development Goal, the reduction of maternal mortality. Methods: In 2006, community-based maternal mortality in Thyolo, Malawi was calculated by applying the ‘sisterhood method’, a survey that relies on participants responding to basic questions about maternal mortality in their families. Results […]
Threats to maternal and child well-being in rural communities in Ngamiland, Botswana
The authors’ main objective of the study was to explore threats to maternal and child well-being in two nonriparian and two riparian communities in the east and west of the Okavango River Basin in Ngamiland District, Botswana. Primary data were collected from a simple random sample of 60 households. Data on women’s access to human, […]
Inequities in accessibility to and utilisation of maternal health services in Ghana after user-fee exemption: A descriptive study
Introduction: Inequities in accessibility to, and utilisation of maternal healthcare services impede progress towards attainment of the maternal health-related Millennium Development Goals. The objective of this study is to examine the extent to which maternal health services are utilised in Ghana, and whether inequities in accessibility to and utilization of services have been eliminated following […]
“I cannot say no when a pregnant woman needs my support to get to the health centre”: Involvement of community health workers in Rwanda’s maternal health
Background: In Rwanda, maternal community health workers (M-CHWs) are involved in the country’s overall health system. In maternal health, their role includes the provision of preventive and promotional health services at the community level. They provide services such as health education on maternal health wellbeing, advice and information on access and timely utilization of health […]
Determining factors associated with the prevalence of knowledge, attitude, and practice in seeking skilled maternal healthcare services among women in a remote area of Gesha district
Background: Skilled health care is essential for the mother’s and newborn’s health and well-being during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. This study aimed to analyze women’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices while requesting competent assistance for maternity healthcare in Gesha District, Southwest Region of Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from September […]
Gender inequity as a barrier to women’s access to skilled pregnancy care in rural Nigeria: A qualitative study
Maternal mortality has been an issue of global importance, with continued efforts by the international development community towards its reduction. The provision of high quality maternal healthcare has been identified as a key strategy in preventing maternal mortality. Gendered intrahousehold power structures, gendered dynamics of resource allocation and women’s limited ability in decision-making can have […]
