Women in low- and middle-income countries are faced with a double burden: they are at greater risk of experiencing perinatal depression compared to women in high-income countries, and they are also less likely to get the care they need. Even in high-income countries, many women with antepartum or postnatal depression are not screened, diagnosed or treated. In low-resource settings, many women cannot access health facilities for antepartum, intrapartum or postnatal care at all, and those who do often receive poor quality care…read more
Reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria: Lessons from Ondo State
Posted onUnderstanding the role of violence as a social determinant of preterm birth
Posted onThe Lancet Maternal Health Series: “Diversity and Divergence: The Dynamic Burden of Poor Maternal Health”
Posted onThe Lancet Maternal Health Series published last month contains six papers highlighting the importance of improving access to high quality maternal health care for all women across the globe. In paper 1, “Diversity and divergence: The dynamic burden of poor maternal health”, Graham and colleagues examine the changing distribution of causes of maternal death and disability (diversity) and the persistent inequalities between and within populations (divergence)…read more
From MDGs to SDGs: Implications for maternal newborn health in Africa
Posted on“A baby was an added burden”: Predictors and consequences of unintended pregnancies for female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: A mixed-methods study
Posted onCommunity perspectives on the determinants of maternal health in rural southern Mozambique: A qualitative study
Posted onNot All Facilities Are Created Equal: The Relationship Between Delivery Volume, Surgical Capacity and Quality of Maternal Health Care in Africa
Posted onIn a recent study published in The Lancet Global Health, Kruk and colleagues used nationally representative health system surveys to examine the quality of maternal health care provided in facilities in Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in relation to volume of deliveries and surgical capacity. Quality of care was evaluated using a set of indicators that measured the facility’s availability of 24-hour skilled staff, referral system, electricity, safe water, equipment for infection control, and ability to administer oxytocin, antibiotics and magnesium sulfate when necessary…read more