BackgroundEvidences from various parts of the world reveal that women with disabilities are facing widespread barriers in accessing public services. Service providers and program managers do not grasp the relevance of their work and interventions in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women with disabilities. The present study therefore aimed to assess family planning knowledge and practice among women with sensory disabilities.MethodsA mixed method approach using quantitative and qualitative methods was employed to collect the data. The study included 326 blind and deaf women using respondent driven sampling technique and 29 purposely selected key informants. We carried out the study from August 2016–April 2017. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and the qualitative analysis was done using Open code software version 4.02 and triangulated with the quantitative findings.ResultsThe findings showed that nearly two third of the respondents of were sexually active. The majority (97.2%) of study respondents had heard about FP methods, however the level of comprehensive knowledge on modern contraceptive methods was 32.5%. The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy was 67.0% and abortion was 44%.Almost half of sexually active respondents ever used modern contraceptive methods, yet the contraceptive prevalence at the time of survey was 31.1%. Implants were the most commonly used (51%) contraceptive method among current users.ConclusionsThe use of modern contraceptive methods among women with sensory disabilities was low. Thus, the government and concerned organizations need to address the attitudinal, social, and physical barriers women with sensory disabilities are facing while seeking, accessing to and using family planning services.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of mothers who lost a baby during pregnancy and care given by doctors and midwives during this period. <b>Opsomming</b> Die doel van die studie was om die ervaring van moeders met betrekking tot die dood van ‘n baba tydens swangerskap te verken en te beskryf, asook die versorging wat hulle van vroedvroue en dokters gedurende die periode ontvang het. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text

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Background Having a birth attendant with midwifery skills during childbirth is an effective intervention to reduce maternal and early neonatal morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, many women in Ethiopia still deliver a baby at home. The current study aimed at exploring and describing reasons why women do not use skilled delivery care in North West Ethiopia. Methods This descriptive explorative qualitative research was done in two districts of West Gojjam Zone in North West Ethiopia. Fourteen focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant women and mothers who delivered within one year. An inductive thematic analysis approach was employed to analyse the qualitative data. The data analysis adhered to reading, coding, displaying, reducing, and interpreting data analysis steps. Results Two major themes client-related factors and health system-related factors emerged. Factors that emerged within the major theme of client-related were socio-cultural factors, fear of health facility childbirth, the nature of labour, lack of antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy, lack of health facility childbirth experience, low knowledge and poor early care-seeking behaviour. Under the major theme of health system-related factors, the sub-themes that emerged were low quality of service, lack of respectful care, and inaccessibility of health facility. Conclusions This study identified a myriad of supply-side and client-related factors as reasons given by pregnant women, for not giving birth in health institution. These factors should be redressed by considering the specific supply-side and community perspectives. The results of this study provide evidence that could help policymakers to develop strategies to address barriers identified, and improve utilisation of skilled delivery service.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of midwives and doctors when caring for mothers with pregnancy loss. To realise this goal, the researcher followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual approach. A purposive sampling method was used to select the doctors and midwives, using set criteria. Data was collected by using focused, semi- structured, individual interviews, taped and transcribed verbatim. Open coding combined with conceptualisation were used to analyse data until saturation occurred. Seven doctors and nine midwives who were interviewed described their experiences and perceptions when working with mothers with pregnancy loss. It became clear that both midwives and doctors lack the know-how to support mothers with pregnancy loss, and that they are overwhelmed by problems like shortage of staff and overcrowding. It is recommended that further research be conducted in other public hospitals, i.e. on a larger scale, to see if the findings are the same. It is also recommended that a counselling programme be developed to help health professionals deal with problems in the ward situation, while they are still able to attend to the mothers. The institution should develop guidelines, policies and procedures to help health professionals to cope when a life can no longer be saved. A multidisciplinary approach and conferences that target causes of perinatal loss are also recommended. <b>Opsomming</b> Die doel van die studie was om die ondervindinge van vroedvroue en dokters te ondersoek terwyl hulle vir moeders sorg wat ‘n miskraam gehad het. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik het die navorser ‘n kwalitatiewe, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele ontwerp gebruik. ‘n Beskikbaarheidsteekproefmetode is gebruik om dokters en vroedvroue volgens vasgestelde kriteria te selekteer. Data is versamel deur gebruik te maak van gefokusde, semigestrukteerde, individuele onderhoude wat opgeneem en later getranskribeer is. Die data is ontleed deur oop kodering en konseptualisering te gebruik totdat versadigingspunt bereik is. Die sewe dokters en nege vroedvroue wat onderhoude toegestaan het, het hulle ondervindinge en persepsies beskryf tydens hulle werk met moeders wat miskrame gehad het. Dit was uit die resultate duidelik dat beide vroedvroue en dokters die kennis en ervaring ontbreek om moeders die nodige emosionele ondersteuning te gee. Probleme soos personeeltekorte en ’n oorvol saal is vir hulle oorweldigend. Daar word aanbeveel dat verdere navorsing op ‘n groter skaal in publieke hospitale uitgevoer word, ten einde te bepaal of die bevindinge dieselfde resultate sal oplewer. Daar word ook aanbeveel dat ’n beradingsprogram ontwikkel word om gesondheidsprofessionele te help om probleme in die saal te hanteer terwyl die moeders nog versorg word. Die hospitale moet riglyne, beleide en prosedures ontwikkel sodat gesondheidsprofessionele gevalle kan hanteer waar hulle nie die baba se lewe kan red nie. Multidisiplinêre benaderings en konferensies moet gereë...