Obstetric outcome following free maternal care at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria
This study aims to determine the impact of free maternal care on the utilisation of the available delivery services and to evaluate the obstetric outcome. All deliveries at ESUTH, Parklane within the 4 months of free maternal care from 1 September to 31 December 2008 were studied and compared with deliveries that took place 4 […]
Examining inequality of opportunity in the use of maternal and reproductive health interventions in Sierra Leone
Background: Poor countries, such as Sierra Leone, often have poor health outcomes, whereby the majority of the population cannot access lifesaving health services. Access to, and use of, maternal and reproductive health services is crucial for human development, especially in developing regions. However, inequality remains a persistent problem for many developing countries. Moreover, we have […]
Trends and antecedents of inequalities in maternal healthcare coverage in four African countries
Using data between 2003 and 2016, this paper assesses the degree and evolution of socio-economic inequalities in maternal health outcomes in four African countries. The study measures the trends of socio-economic inequalities in maternal healthcare and assesses the sources of socio-economic inequalities in maternal health through a decomposition approach. We find cross-country differences in the […]
Determinants of access to health care among women in East African countries: A multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health surveys from 2008 to 2017
Background: Access to essential health care is one of the major factors associated with maternal mortality. In developing countries, improving women’s access to health care has significantly reduced maternal death. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of access to health care among women in East African countries based on 2008 to 2017 Demographic […]
Timing and utilization of antenatal care services in Liberia: Understanding the pre-Ebola epidemic context
In Liberia, 75% of those who died from 2014 Ebola epidemic were women and the effects of this gruelling epidemic were more severely felt by pregnant women. This immediately raised fears about the long-term impacts of the epidemic on maternal and child health. As part of a larger study, this paper uses Andersen’s behavioural model […]
Seasonal variations in household food insecurity and dietary diversity and their association with maternal and child nutritional status in rural Ethiopia
Food availability and access are strongly affected by seasonality in rural households in Ethiopia. However, relationships between household food insecurity indicators and dietary diversity and nutritional status of reproductive age mothers and their young children are unclear. A longitudinal study was conducted among 800 farming households in lowland and midland agro-ecological zones of rural Ethiopia […]
Caesarean section in Benin and Mali: increased recourse to technology due to suffering and under-resourced facilities: Increased recourse to caesarean sections in Mali and Benin
In line with policies to combat maternal mortality, the medicalization of childbirth is increasing in low-income countries, while access to healthcare services remains difficult for many women. High caesarean section rates have been documented recently in hospitals in Mali and Benin, illustrating an a-priori paradoxical situation, compared with low caesarean section rates in the population. […]
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 […]
TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK ON THE USE OF INFOMEDIARIES IN MATERNAL MHEALTH IN RURAL MALAWI
Aim/Purpose The aim of the study is to explore factors that affect how healthcare clients in rural areas use infomediaries in maternal mHealth interventions. The study focuses on maternal healthcare clients who do not own mobile phones but use the mHealth intervention. Background Maternal mHealth interventions in poor-resource settings are bedevilled by inequalities in mobile […]
Measures adopted by indigent mothers in Kilifi County to tackle maternal health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study
Many sub-Saharan African countries have experienced various challenges that threaten the quality of health services offered to the population. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to healthcare services in many countries as they grappled with implementing measures to curb its spread. The consequences of COVID-19 have been catastrophic for maternal and newborn health. There is a […]
