High-risk fertility behaviours among women in sub-Saharan Africa
BACKGROUND: High-risk fertility behaviours such as too early or advanced age at delivery, shorter birth interval, birth order and a higher number of live births to a woman often lead to adverse maternal and child health outcomes. We assessed high-risk fertility behaviours and their associated factors among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: Data on […]
“If I Was Educated, I Would Call the Ambulance and Give Birth at the Health Facility”—A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Inequities in the Utilization of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Services in Northern Ethiopia
In earlier studies, we have shown that the utilization of maternal health services in rural Ethiopia was distributed in a pro-rich fashion, while the coverage of child immunization was equitably distributed. Hence, this study aimed to explore mothers’ and primary healthcare workers’ perceptions of inequities in maternal, newborn, and child health services in rural Ethiopia, […]
Inequities in utilization of maternal health interventions in Namibia: Implications for progress towards MDG 5 targets
Background. Inequities in the utilization of maternal health services impede progress towards the MDG 5 target of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015. In Namibia, despite increasing investments in the health sector, the maternal mortality ratio has increased from 271 per 100,000 live births in the period 1991-2000 to […]
Ethnic disparities in utilisation of maternal health care services in Ghana: Evidence from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey
Objective. Disparities in utilisation of maternal health care remain a challenge to attainment of the maternal health-related Millennium Development Goals. The objective of this descriptive study was to examine disparities in utilisation of maternal health care among ethnic groups in Ghana.Design. Data from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey were analysed for disparities in antenatal […]
A qualitative study of the maternal health information-seeking behaviour of women of reproductive age in Mpwapwa district, Tanzania
Background: Active engagement in seeking maternal health information among women of reproductive age is vital in promoting positive health-seeking behaviour and improving maternal health outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to explore maternal health information-seeking behaviour of women of reproductive age in a rural Tanzania. Methods: Using a qualitative research approach, the study held eight focus […]
Dimensions of women empowerment on access to antenatal care in Uganda: A further analysis of the Uganda demographic health survey 2016
Background: Women empowerment has been viewed as a good strategy in the reduction of global maternal morbidity and mortality. Most of the recent studies in Uganda have focussed on antenatal care (ANC) frequency and the associated factors with no focus on the effect of women empowerment. Our study aims at examining the prevalence of optimal […]
Creating the next steps to care: Maternal heath, improvisation, and Fulani women in Niamey, Niger
On paper, Niger’s maternal healthcare system is extensively outlined by policies which assure access to certain services and create hierarchical referral chains. In practice it remains intensely improvisational: actors in the system must frequently make up the next steps to giving and receiving care, often outside the existing policies and procedures. Although population health in […]
Men’s perception of barriers to women’s use and access of skilled pregnancy care in rural Nigeria: A qualitative study
Background: Greater paternal engagement is positively associated with improved access to and utilization of maternal services. Despite evidence that male involvement increased uptake of maternal and child services, studies show that few men are participating in MNCH programs. Community leaders have long been engaged in public health promotion in rural settings and have been shown […]
Maternity waiting Home-use and associated factors among mothers in northwest Ethiopia, The application of the integrated behavioral model
Background: Maternal mortality in Ethiopia is the highest in the world (412/100,000). Health facility delivery is the cornerstone in reducing maternal mortality. However, health facility delivery is low in Ethiopia, due to poor access and ill-equipped health facilities. Maternity waiting home (MWH) is one of the comprehensive packages of essential obstetric services, enabling women to […]
Maternal health care in five sub-Saharan African countries
This paper examines inequalities in access to maternal health care services and identifies demographic and socio-economic factors associated with poor maternal health outcomes using data from five Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Ghana (2003), Kenya (2003), Nigeria (2003), Uganda (2000-2001) and Zambia (2001-2002). The six maternal health care indicators show that rural women are […]
