Severe maternal outcomes in eastern Ethiopia: Application of the adapted maternal near miss tool
Background With the reduction of maternal mortality, maternal near miss (MNM) has been used as a complementary indicator of maternal health. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of MNM in eastern Ethiopia using an adapted sub-Saharan Africa MNM tool and compare its applicability with the original WHO MNM tool. Methods We […]
Pregnant adolescents and nurses perspectives on accessibility and utilization of maternal and child health information in Ohangwena Region, Namibia
Background: Adolescent reproductive health is still a challenge in Low and Middle Income Come Countries (LMICs). However, the reasons for the inability of most pregnant adolescent girls to access and utilize maternal and child health information (MCHI) are not well-documented. This is despite the policy guidelines promoting the provision of this necessary information to pregnant […]
“Passing through difficult times”: Perceptions of perinatal depression and treatment needs in Malawi – A qualitative study to inform the development of a culturally sensitive intervention
Purpose This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of perinatal women and key maternal care health workers about perinatal depression and the health service needs required to inform development of a culturally sensitive and acceptable psychosocial intervention. Methods This qualitative study used a descriptive exploratory design; it is the first phase of a larger […]
A qualitative study of community elders’ perceptions about the underutilization of formal maternal care and maternal death in rural Nigeria
Background: Underutilization of formal maternal care services and accredited health attendants is a major contributor to the high maternal mortality rates in rural communities in Nigeria. Perceptions of a poor quality of care and inaccessible services in health facilities strongly influence the low use of formal maternal care services. There is therefore a need to […]
Can people-centered community-oriented interventions improve skilled birth attendance? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in rural communities of Cambodia, Kenya, and Zambia
Background: Skilled attendance at delivery is a key marker for reducing maternal mortality. Effective community engagement strategies complemented by community health worker (CHW) services can improve access to maternal health services in areas with limited health infrastructure or workforce. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with matched comparison groups was conducted in Cambodia, Kenya and Zambia to […]
Improving health care facility birth rates in Rorya District, Tanzania: a multiple baseline trial
Background: Rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in Africa remain unacceptably high, as many women deliver at home, without access to skilled birth attendants and life-saving medications. In rural Tanzania, women face significant barriers accessing health care facilities for their deliveries. Methods: From January 2017 to February 2019 we conducted a multiple baseline (interrupted time […]
The developmental effects of HIV and alcohol: A comparison of gestational outcomes among babies from South African communities with high prevalence of HIV and alcohol use
Background: There is growing evidence of the negative impact of alcohol on morbidity and mortality of individuals living with HIV but limited evidence of in utero effects of HIV and alcohol on exposure on infants. Methods: We conducted a population-based birth cohort study (N=667 mother-infant dyads) in South Africa to investigate whether maternal alcohol use […]
Policymaker, health provider and community perspectives on male involvement during pregnancy in southern Mozambique: A qualitative study
Background: Increasing male involvement during pregnancy is considered an important, but often overlooked intervention for improving maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa. Intervention studies aimed at improving maternal health mostly target mothers hereby ignoring the crucial role their partners play in their ability to access antenatal care (ANC) and to prevent and treat infectious diseases like […]
Variation in maternal mortality in Sidama National Regional State, southern Ethiopia: A population based cross sectional household survey
Introduction Maternal mortality studies conducted at national level do not provide information needed for planning and monitoring health programs at lower administrative levels. The aim of this study was to measure maternal mortality, identify risk factors and district level variations in Sidama National Regional State, southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross sectional population-based survey was carried […]
Cultural beliefs and practices of women influencing home births in rural Northern Ghana
Background: One of the maternal health care strategies identified by the World Health Organization as being crucial for saving lives of pregnant women, which also serves as an indicator for progress in reducing maternal mortality, is the provision and utilization of skilled birth care. Despite the importance of skilled birth care in preventing maternal morbidity […]
