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 […]
Challenges in access and satisfaction with reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey
Background The presence of COVID-19 has led to the disruption of health systems globally, including essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services. This study aimed to assess the challenges faced by women who used RMNCH services in Nigeria’s epicentre, their satisfaction with care received during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with […]
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 […]
Disclosure, stigma of HIV positive child and access to early infant diagnosis in the rural communities of OR Tambo District, South Africa: A qualitative exploration of maternal perspective
Background: Despite the overwhelming evidence confirming the morbidity and mortality benefits of early initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected infants, some children are still disadvantaged from gaining access to care. The understanding of the maternal perspective on early infant HIV diagnosis and prompt initiation of HAART has not been adequately explored, especially […]
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 […]
Women’s land rights and maternal healthcare in southwestern uganda: Exploring the implications of women’s decision-making regarding sale and use of land on access to maternal healthcare
Most traditional land tenure practices among developing economies are opposed to protecting and promoting women‘s land ownership rights. In Uganda, land tenure practices are largely customary and patriarchal in nature, in most communities women‘s land tenure security is dependent on marriage. This paper builds a body of evidence on how gender biased land tenure negatively […]
Can formalizing links among community health workers, accredited drug dispensing outlet dispensers, and health facility staff increase their collaboration to improve prompt access to maternal and child care? A qualitative study in Tanzania
Background: In Tanzania, progress toward achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals for maternal and newborn health was slow. An intervention brought together community health workers, health facility staff, and accredited drug dispensing outlet (ADDO) dispensers to improve maternal and newborn health through a mechanism of collaboration and referral. This study explored barriers, successes, and promising […]
“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 […]
Improving access to maternal health services among rural hard-to-reach fishing communities in Uganda, the role of community health workers
Objectives: To explore whether community health worker household-based maternal health visits improve antenatal care and skilled birth attendance among hard-to-reach fishing villages on Lake Victoria, Uganda. Methods: This quasi-experimental 18-month prospective study involved 486 consenting women aged 15–49 years, who were pregnant or had a pregnancy outcome in the past 6 months, from 6 island […]
Access to Maternal Health Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Indigent Mothers and Health Care Providers in Kilifi County, Kenya
COVID-19 has spread rapidly in Kenya and has not spared pregnant women. Evidence from Kenya shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems have been either stressed to their maximum capacity or are becoming overwhelmed. However, the population is advised not to attend hospital unless strictly necessary, and this advice seems to apply to all, […]
