Reducing Maternal Mortality by Strengthening Community Maternal Support Systems: Findings from a Qualitative Baseline Study in Northern Nigeria

Okereke, Ekechi; Aradeon, Susan B.; Yisa, Ibrahim

doi:10.29063/ajrh2016/v20i3.20

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Likewise, in Nigeria, some rural communities were found to have some form of emergency transport arrangements in place to assist women when they experienced a maternal obstetric emergency. 30 However, community support towards maternal and neonatal care needed to be considered with caution, as most of the retrogressive cultural beliefs and practices, uncovered in this study, were perpetuated by the same community members. Nevertheless, the involvement of the community was vital in improving maternal and neonatal health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Exploring community support on safe motherhood: A case of Lilongwe District, Malawi

Pindani

Chilinda

Botha

et al. 2021

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

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Background: Malawi is grappling with a high maternal mortality of 439 per 100 000 live births. It is estimated that 80% of maternal deaths can be prevented by actively engaging the community in the country. However, community support on safe motherhood remains unknown.Aim: This study, therefore, explored community support rendered to mothers and babies during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods.Setting: This study was conducted in the Lilongwe District, Malawi.Methods: This was a qualitative study that collected data from 30 village health committee members through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: This study found that community support on safe motherhood rendered to women varied. The following five themes emerged from FGDs data on community support on safe motherhood: antenatal support, intrapartum support, postpartum support, bylaws reinforced by chiefs in the community and safe motherhood support groups. Community members encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal care, escorted pregnant women to the hospital for delivery and assisted women to care for a child and go for postpartum checkups. Community bylaws were considered as a necessary tool for encouraging women to attend antenatal care, deliver at the health facility and attend postpartum checkups.Conclusion: This study suggests that community members play a crucial role in providing support to women and newborns during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Exploring community support on safe motherhood: A case of Lilongwe District, Malawi

Pindani

Chilinda

Botha

et al. 2021

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The Midwives Services Scheme (MSS), a maternal and newborn healthcare intervention targeted at primary healthcare level, was similarly introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria to address high maternal and newborn mortality, especially within rural areas in Nigeria [20]. Furthermore, the “three delays” are known barriers for women and children trying to access maternal, newborn and child health services [21–23]. The introduction of community midwives within rural communities could be a good maternal and newborn healthcare intervention to minimize the impact of the three delays and thus improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria—a qualitative study of stakeholders’ perceptions about the performance of community health workers and the introduction of community midwifery at primary healthcare level

et al. 2019

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BackgroundRural communities in Nigeria account for high maternal and newborn mortality rates in the country. Thus, there is a need for innovative models of service delivery, possibly with greater community engagement. Introducing and strengthening community midwifery practice within the Nigerian primary healthcare system is a clear policy option. The potential of community midwifery to increase the availability of skilled care during pregnancy, at birth and within postpartum periods in the health systems of developing countries has not been fully explored. This study was designed to assess stakeholders’ perceptions about the performance of community health workers and the feasibility of introducing and using community midwifery to address the high maternal and newborn mortality within the Nigerian healthcare system.MethodsThis study was undertaken in two human resources for health (HRH) project focal states (Bauchi and Cross River States) in Nigeria, utilizing a qualitative research design. Interviews were conducted with 44 purposively selected key informants. Key informants were selected based on their knowledge and experience working with different cadres of frontline health workers at primary healthcare level. The qualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed and then thematically analysed.ResultsSome study participants felt that introducing community midwifery will increase access to maternal and newborn healthcare services, especially in rural communities. Others felt that applying community midwifery at the primary healthcare level may lead to duplication of duties among the health worker cadres, possibly creating disharmony. Some key informants suggested that there should be concerted efforts to train and retrain the existing cadres of community health workers via the effective implementation of the task shifting policy in Nigeria, in addition to possibly revising the existing training curricula, instead of introducing community midwifery.ConclusionApplying community midwifery within the Nigerian healthcare system has the potential to increase the availability of skilled care during pregnancy, at birth and within postpartum periods, especially in rural communities. However, there needs to be broader stakeholder engagement, more awareness creation and the careful consideration of modalities for introducing and strengthening community midwifery training and practice within the Nigerian health system as well as within the health systems of other developing countries.

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Reducing Maternal Mortality by Strengthening Community Maternal Support Systems: Findings from a Qualitative Baseline Study in Northern Nigeria

Cited by 2 publications

References 20 publications

Exploring community support on safe motherhood: A case of Lilongwe District, Malawi

Exploring community support on safe motherhood: A case of Lilongwe District, Malawi

Reducing maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria—a qualitative study of stakeholders’ perceptions about the performance of community health workers and the introduction of community midwifery at primary healthcare level

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