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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The impact of the Ethiopian health extension program and health development army on maternal mortality: A synthetic control approach

The Ethiopian government has implemented nationwide strategies to improve access to basic health services and enhance health outcomes. The Health Extension Program (HEP) launched in 2003, expanded basic health infrastructure and local human resources. In 2011, the government introduced the Health Development Army (HDA). HDA is a women-centered community movement inspired by military structures and […]

Access to maternal health services during COVID-19 pandemic, re-examining the three delays among pregnant women in Ilubabor zone, southwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background All women require access to high-quality care during pregnancy, labor, and after childbirth. The occurrence of delay at any stage is one of the major causes of maternal mortality. There is, however, a scarcity of data on women’s access to maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the goal of this study was […]

Structural, programmatic, and sociocultural intersectionality of gender influencing access-uptake of reproductive, maternal, and child health services in developing regions of Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Background Gender remains a critical social factor in reproductive, maternal, and child health and family planning (RMNCH/FP) care. However, its intersectionality with other social determinants of the RMNCH remains poorly documented. This study aimed to explore the influence of gender intersectionality on the access uptake of RMNCH/FP in Developing Regional States (DRS) in Ethiopia. Methods […]

“We have a lot of home deliveries” A qualitative study on the impact of COVID-19 on access to and utilization of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health care among refugee women in urban Eastleigh, Kenya

Background: Little is known about how pregnant refugee women, and the frontline health care workers who serve them, are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of health, and health service access. Women refugees are classified as a vulnerable group with regard to pregnancy outcomes and access to maternal care, and may be disproportionally at […]

Barriers for health care access affects maternal continuum of care utilization in Ethiopia; spatial analysis and generalized estimating equation

Background Although Ethiopia had made a significant change in maternal morbidity and mortality over the past decades, it remains a major public health concern. World Health Organization designed maternal continuum of care to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. However, majority of the mothers didn’t utilize the maternal continuum of care. Therefore, this study aimed to […]

Stakeholders’ perspectives on facilitators of and barriers to the utilisation of and access to maternal health services in Eritrea: A qualitative study

Background: Wars affect maternal health services by destroying health systems. Eritrea experienced two wars with neighbouring Ethiopia. Despite this, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Eritrea fell by 69% from 1590 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 501 in 2015. This study aimed to examine facilitators of and barriers to the utilisation of and […]