Quality of antenatal care predicts retention in skilled birth attendance: A multilevel analysis of 28 African countries
Background: An effective continuum of maternal care ensures that mothers receive essential health packages from pre-pregnancy to delivery, and postnatally, reducing the risk of maternal death. However, across Africa, coverage of skilled birth attendance is lower than coverage for antenatal care, indicating mothers are not retained in the continuum between antenatal care and delivery. This […]
Early onset severe preeclampsia and eclampsia in a low-resource setting, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Objectives: Early-onset severe preeclampsia is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality especially in low-resource settings, where women have limited access to antenatal care. This dataset was generated from a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out at Mpilo Central Hospital, covering the period February 1, 2016 to July 30, 2018. The aim of the […]
Predictors of stunting among children aged 6-59 months, Zimbabwe
Objective: Stunted children have an increased risk of diminished cognitive development, diabetes, degenerative and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Numerous modifiable factors decrease the risk of stunting in children. This study aimed to assess the role of the individual, household, and social factors on stunting in Zimbabwean children. Design: A 1:2 unmatched case-control study Setting: […]
Extended family’s and women’s roles in safeguarding orphans’ education in AIDS-afflicted rural Zimbabwe
The extended family forms the basis for orphan care and education in sub-Saharan Africa. Initial absence followed by emergence of differentials in primary school enrolment between orphans and non-orphans have been attributed to the strength and subsequent HIV/AIDS-induced breakdown of extended family orphan care arrangements. Yet, few attempts have been made to describe how these […]
Liberalising Health-seeking Behaviour of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Sect in Manicaland, Zimbabwe
Religious rights as enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution are sacrosanct, however, when church doctrine bars followers from seeking modern medical care, they start infringing on health rights especially of the ‘lesser beings’ the women and children who are members of these religious sects. The ‘lesser beings’ are bearing the brunt of high maternal and neonatal […]
HIV self-care practices during pregnancy and maternal health outcomes among HIV-positive postnatal mothers aged 18–35 years at Mbuya Nehanda maternity hospital
HIV-related conditions are one of the indirect causes of maternal deaths in Zimbabwe and the prevalence rate was estimated to be 13.63% in 2009. The study utilised a descriptive correlational design on 80 pregnant women who were HIV positive at Mbuya Nehanda maternity hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. Participants comprised a random sample of 80 postnatal […]
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 […]
Women’s education and utilization of maternal health services in Africa: A multi-country and socioeconomic status analysis
Summary There is an abundant literature on the relationship between women’s education and maternal and child outcomes, including antenatal and postnatal care, onset of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance. However, few studies have adopted the ‘equity’ lens, despite increasing evidence that inequities between rich and poor are increasing although maternal and child mortality is […]
Removing financial barriers to access reproductive, maternal and newborn health services: The challenges and policy implications for human resources for health
Background: The last decade has seen widespread retreat from user fees with the intention to reduce financial constraints to users in accessing health care and in particular improving access to reproductive, maternal and newborn health services. This has had important benefits in reducing financial barriers to access in a number of settings. If the policies […]
