Perfluorinated compounds in maternal serum and cord blood from selected areas of South Africa: Results of a pilot study
There is limited information about both environmental and human perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) concentrations in the southern hemisphere, and for the first time, concentrations of these compounds are reported in maternal serum and cord blood of South African women. The majority of the participants were of African Black ethnicity, with a similar socioeconomic status. In maternal […]
Maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes in women with pre-eclampsia cared for at facility-level in South Africa: A prospective cohort study
Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute to 14% of all maternal deaths, the majority of which occur in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of the study was to describe the maternal and perinatal clinical outcomes of women with pre-eclampsia living in middle- and low-income countries. Methods The study was a prospective observational study of […]
The proposed need for integrated maternal and child oral health policy: A case of South Africa
The high oral disease burden among children in South Africa, specifically early childhood caries, has received scant attention despite the fact that it is a public health concern that negatively impacts the overall well-being and quality of life of the child. While South Africa has a number of well documented policies that focus on oral […]
Obstetric critical care services in South Africa
More than half of all global maternal deaths occur in Africa. A large percentage of these deaths are preventable, and lack of access to adequate critical care facilities is a contributing factor. There are limited published data on the clinical and management challenges presented by the critically ill obstetric patient admitted to the intensive care […]
Development and testing of a composite index to monitor the continuum of maternal health service delivery at provincial and district level in South Africa
Introduction The continuum of care is a recommended framework for comprehensive health service delivery for maternal health, and it integrates health system and social determinants of health. There is a current lack of knowledge on a measurement approach to monitor performance on the framework. In this study we aim to develop and test a composite […]
Intergenerational impacts of maternal mortality: Qualitative findings from rural Malawi
Background: Maternal mortality, although largely preventable, remains unacceptably high in developing countries such as Malawi and creates a number of intergenerational impacts. Few studies have investigated the far-reaching impacts of maternal death beyond infant survival. This study demonstrates the short- and long-term impacts of maternal death on children, families, and the community in order to […]
Kinship in Practice: Spatial Distribution of Children’s Kin Networks
The examination of co-residential household arrangements has been a mainstay in demographic analysis, based on the assumption that those with whom one lives are the most important influences in one’s life. In contrast, we know far less about the spaces not shared but none the less crucially important in the lives of children. In this […]
Health sector reforms: Implications for maternal and child healthcare in south africa
Generally, public health facilities in developing countries tend to be underfunded and inefficient. In South Africa, these problems have continued even after the introduction of free maternal and child health care policy. It is argued that this policy increased utilization rate and consequently overcrowding of public health facilities. Nonetheless, long waiting times and unavailability of […]
Impacts of maternal mortality on living children and families: A qualitative study from Butajira, Ethiopia
Background: The consequences of maternal mortality on orphaned children and the family members who support them are dramatic, especially in countries that have high maternal mortality like Ethiopia. As part of a four country, mixed-methods study (Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania) qualitative data were collected in Butajira, Ethiopia with the aim of exploring the […]
Barriers to obstetric care among maternal near-misses
Background. There are several factors in the healthcare system that may influence a woman’s ability to access appropriate obstetric care. Objective. To determine the delays/barriers in providing obstetric care to women who classified as a maternal near-miss. Methods. This was a descriptive observational study at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Pretoria, […]
