Audit of antenatal care in a rural district of KZN, South Africa
Background: Maternal and perinatal mortality remain a big challenge in developing countries, including South Africa, where the figures are amongst the highest in the world. Provision of adequate antenatal care is regarded as a cornerstone of maternal and perinatal health care and is expected to have a considerable impact on achieving the Millennium Development Goals. […]
Causes of maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of studies published from 2015 to 2020
Background: Maternal deaths remain high in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and their causes of maternal death must be analysed frequently in this region to guide interventions. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies published from 2015 to 2020 that reported the causes of maternal deaths in 57 SSA countries. The objective was to identify the […]
Examining attitudes and knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer risk among female clinic attendees in Johannesburg, South Africa
Developing countries account for 85% of the nearly 500,000 yearly cases of cervical cancer worldwide with approximately 250,000 deaths occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. In South Africa, cervical cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death among women. Although cervical cancer can be screened for with regular Pap tests, access to […]
Early Reflections on Mphatlalatsane, a Maternal and Neonatal Quality Improvement Initiative Implemented During COVID-19 in South Africa
Despite global progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and stillbirths, much work remains to be done to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Reports indicate that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disrupts the provision and uptake of routine maternal and neonatal health care (MNH) services and negatively impacts cumulative pre-COVID-19 achievements. We describe a multipartnered MNH quality […]
Maternal attitudes towards pre-natal substance abuse, medical care, and treatment in a historically disadvantaged South African community
This study explored maternal substance abuse and the access to pre-natal medical care and treatment for substance abuse during pregnancy. Respondent mothers (n = 102; mean age = 27.8 years, SD = 10.9 years) were from Mitchell’s Plain, a historically disadvantaged South African community. The mothers completed a mixed methods interview on the context and […]
Text messages as a learning tool for midwives
The use of cell phone text messaging to improve access to continuing healthcare education in under-resourced settings is not well documented. We aimed to assess whether this method of education is acceptable to South African midwives in both the public and private sectors. Essential healthcare lessons from the Maternal Care book of the Perinatal Education […]
Managers’ support on implementation of maternal guidelines, Limpopo province, South Africa
BACKGROUND: The report of Saving Mothers indicated a decline of maternal mortality from 12.8% to 12.5% last triennium of 2017. This shows that regardless of availability of national maternal health guidelines, midwives and managers, 25% of maternal deaths were caused by preventable and avoidable factors. As such, support provided by managers is vital in promoting […]
Impact of COVID-19 on routine primary healthcare services in South Africa
Background. The COVID-19 pandemic and responses by governments, including lockdowns, have had various consequences for lives and livelihoods. South Africa (SA) was one of the countries that implemented severely restrictive lockdowns to reduce transmission and limit the number of patients requiring hospitalisation. These interventions have had mixed consequences for routine health services. Objectives. To assess […]
Abortion reforms in South Africa: An overview of the choice on termination of pregnancy act
Access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is a constitutional right and on a broader perspective is part of the universal right to health. The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act of 1996 was a major step towards commitment to providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in an equitable and rights-based approach. Despite abortion […]
A call to action: Addressing the reproductive health needs of women with drug-resistant tuberculosis
Although there is substantial risk to maternal and neonatal health in the situation of pregnancy during treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), there is little evidence to guide clinicians as to how to manage this complexity. Of the 49 680 patients initiated on RR-TB treatment from 2009 to 2014 in South Africa, 47% were women and […]
