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Background: Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) account for 94% of maternal deaths annually. Interventions to reduce these deaths include; access to Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) and Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) at childbirth. However, evidence indicates increasing access to EmOC, and SBA only does not translate into positive maternal and newborn outcome due to disrespectful care faced by women during labour. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines emphasize on positive birth experience through Respectful Maternity Care (RMC). Therefore, this review aims to explore enablers and barriers to respectful maternity care in low and middle-income countries. Methods: We conducted an exhaustive literature search for studies that reported on enablers and barriers to respectful maternity care. Qualitative studies done in low and middle-income countries, published in English Language from the year 2000 to June 2020 were included in this study. Articles were screened by two researchers for eligibility and critical appraisal skills programme checklist was used to appraise the quality. The themes and quotes from the studies were extracted and synthesized using thematic synthesis. Results: The search strategy generated 14,190 articles and 54 studies met the inclusion criteria. Two main themes: interpersonal relationship and support, and privacy and confidential care were reported as both enablers and barriers to respectful maternity care. Strategies to promote RMC were: health education to pregnant women on care expected during labour, good communication between maternity staff and women, capacity building of staff on RMC and staff motivation. Conclusion: Respectful maternity care plays a big role in promoting health-seeking behaviours among pregnant women. However, women experience barriers ranging from provider behaviour, work environment and health system challenges. Ensuring a dignified and respectful How to cite this paper: Mgawadere, F. and Shuaibu, U.

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Cross-border human trafficking remains a significant challenge to effective fight against illicit trans-border movements through Seme-Idiroko borders. The purpose of this paper was to assess how drivers of cross-border human trafficking have undermined safety of individuals and compromised effective protection of Seme-Idiroko borders in order to mitigate the increasing spate of cross-border sex and labour trafficking in the border communities. The study was built around the structural conflict theory by Karl Marx in order to clearly understand the class character of the drivers of human trafficking. Using the Rakash sample size formula, a sample of 397 was determined from a population of 46,105 respondents comprising a target population from NAPTIP, NCS, and NIS in both Ogun and Lagos States; ONSA, Abuja and residents of Idiroko, Seme, Kpodji-Ague and Igolo border communities. Also, 15 respondents were selected from the sample size of the study using purposive sampling method. Data were collected using structured and open-ended questions as well as in-depth interview. Data were also collected from secondary source. Data from questionnaire were analysed using weighted average, while data from in-depth interview were analysed using narrative technique. Data from secondary source were analysed using relational-content analysis. Findings from the study revealed, among other things, that poverty, craving for better life and porous nature of Seme-Idirko borders are among drivers of cross-border human trafficking undermining security in Seme-Idiroko border communities. Among other things, it was recommended that the government should urgently embark on poverty alleviation programmes in Seme-Idiroko border communities with a view to mitigating drivers of cross-border human trafficking undermining security in the border communities.

Cross-border human trafficking has increased in dangerous proportion resulting in large number of Nigeria women, boys and girls that are recruited forcefully from villages and transported through Seme-Idiroko borders to other countries for exploitation. The purpose of the paper was to examine the remarkable ways cross-border human trafficking through Idiroko and Seme borders affect safety of individuals in Seme-Idiroko border communities and border protection in the border posts. The study was built around the deterrence theory by classical scholars in order to clearly understand how severity, certainty and celerity of punishment can deter potential offenders from indulging in the crime of compromising border security. Using the Rakash sample size formula, a sample of 397 was determined from a population of 46,105 respondents drawn from NAPTIP, NCS, and NIS in both Ogun and Lagos States; ONSA, Abuja and residents of Idiroko, Seme, Kpodji-Ague and Igolo border communities. Also, 15 respondents were tentatively selected for the sample size of the study using purposive sampling method. Data were collected using structured and open-ended questions as well as in-depth interview. Data were also collected from secondary source. Data from questionnaire were analyzed using weighted average, while data from in-depth interview were analyzed using narrative-analytic technique. Data from secondary source were analyzed using relational-content analysis. Findings showed, among other things, that the higher the level of cross-border human trafficking through Idiroko and Seme borders, the poorer the state of border security in Lagos and Ogun States. Among other things, it was recommended that the government should make punishment of offenders of cross-border human trafficking severe enough to discourage potential offenders from indulging in the crime.