Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders: A Critical Absence from the Cesarean Section Debate
Posted onAddressing the Maternal Mental Health Diagnosis Gap Through Screening Tools in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Posted onThere is a dearth of mental health screening tools validated for use in low-resource settings among pregnant women, specifically in Africa. To address this research gap, a study recently published in PLOS ONE by Heyningen et al. examined the reliability and feasibility of five screening tools to diagnose Major Depressive Episode and/or anxiety in a South African primary care antenatal clinic…read more
World Maternal Mental Health Day: Perinatal Mental Health Issues Affect Mothers, Fathers and Families
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Midwives, Government Officials and International Agencies Meet in Mexico City to Discuss Inclusion of Birth Centers Into the National Health System
Posted onIn January 2018, the Network for Midwifery Centers held an International Best Practices Meeting in Mexico City bringing together stakeholders from the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization, United Nations Population Fund, the Committee for Safe Motherhood, Federal Ministry of Health, eight State Ministries of Health, academics, midwives, mothers and other grassroots organizations to come to agreement on the role of midwifery centers in improving maternal health in Mexico…read more
Landmark Ruling in Kenya: A Victory for Respectful Maternity Care
Posted onThis year, International Day for Maternal Health and Rights fell three weeks after a Kenyan woman was awarded 25,000 USD in compensation by a court in Bungoma, Kenya for the disrespect and abuse she suffered during childbirth in 2013. This is a landmark case for women, in Kenya and globally, and is an affirmation of their human right to respectful and dignified maternity care…read more
Importance of Weight Management in Women of Childbearing Age
Posted onImproving Health Facility Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for Enhanced Delivery of Quality Maternal and Newborn Health Services in Kenya
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World Water Day is an opportunity to reflect on the availability—or lack—of clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in places providing maternal health care around the world. A 2015 World Health Organization rapid assessment of WASH coverage in health care facilities in 54 low- and middle-income countries found that 38% of these facilities lacked access to an improved water source, or one that is likely to be protected from outside contamination. Learn how Kenya has improved WASH conditions in select health facilities in high-burden districts…read more
To Address Noncommunicable Diseases and Maternal Health in Low-Resource Settings, Integrate Data at the Primary Care Level
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High quality maternal health care requires a health workforce and health systems that adequately respond to local needs and can meet emerging challenges, such as those at the intersection of maternal health and noncommunicable diseases. Guyana’s health system structure has serious potential to evaluate and respond to these complex health issues, but decisions concerning resources and strategies require evidence-based support…read more
In India, Culturally Relevant Community Events Aim to Improve Health-Seeking Behavior During Pregnancy
Posted onThe latest National Family Health Survey revealed that only about a third of women in Maharashtra, a high-income and highly urbanized state in India, accessed full antenatal care—but culturally relevant community events have immense potential in improving health-seeking behavior of pregnant women while expanding their knowledge of and willingness to use available public health services…read more