High Incidence of Neonatal Danger Signs and Its Implications for Postnatal Care in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

The receipt of health information on neonatal dangers signs during the immediate postpartum period and its determinants in Ethiopia: a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey report

BACKGROUND

Identification of neonatal danger signs and immediate access to health care are two global efforts aimed at enhancing newborn and child survival by preventing 75% of neonatal deaths. Despite various small-scale studies on women's awareness of neonatal danger signs in Ethiopia, little is known about the level of receiving health information on those danger signs during the immediate postpartum period at the national level. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the level, and its determinants of the service uptake in Ethiopia.

METHODS

The data for this study was taken from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), which took place from January to June 2016 and covered all administrative regions of Ethiopia. A weighted sample of 7,589.8 women was analyzed using STATA version 16. To account for data clustering, a multivariable multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the effects of each predictor on the outcome variable. Adjusted odds ratio with its corresponding 95% confidence interval was used to declare the statistical significance of the explanatory variables.

RESULTS

The receipt of health information on neonatal danger signs during the immediate postpartum period was 10.70% [95% CI:10.01, 11.40]. Variables namely living in Metropolitans [AOR = 2.06; 95%CI: 1.48, 2.88] and Large central [AOR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.38, 2.42] regions, being in the highest wealth quintile [AOR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.84], being nulliparous [AOR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.87] and primiparous[AOR = 0.61;95% CI: 0.46, 0.79], getting adequate antenatal visits [AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.75, 3.33], institutional delivery [AOR = 5.91; 95% CI: 4.66, 7.53], and receipt of postnatal visits [AOR = 3.52; 95% CI: 2.84, 4.38] were identified as significant determinants of receiving health information on newborn danger signs.

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed that unacceptably low uptake of health information on newborn danger signs during the immediate postpartum period in Ethiopia. A concerted effort is needed from all stakeholders in the health sector to enhance the uptake of maternal health services (antenatal care, skilled delivery service, and postnatal care). Healthcare providers should pay special attention to nulliparous and primiparous women during and after delivery, and the government should also focus on women of peripheral regions, who make up a large portion of the low coverage.

Sociodemographic and Maternal Determinants of Postnatal Care Utilization: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Postnatal care (PNC) is critical for the newborn and the mother, as it offers the opportunity to examine the mother and child to ensure early and timely intervention of any obstetric anomalies that might have gone unnoticed during delivery. However, there is a lack of data on PNC utilization and associated determinants in Ghana. Meanwhile, it is suspected that the PNC service should be more patronized by mothers, particularly within the first 2 days after delivery; therefore, investigating PNC utilization and associated factors could inform policies to enhance PNC uptake.

Objective

The objective is to determine the level of utilization of PNC service and associated factors in the Savannah region of Ghana.

Methods

The study used a facility-based analytical cross-sectional study design. The study was carried out in 311 postnatal mothers using consecutive sampling. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire. Univariate and multiple logistic regression was performed to establish the determinants of PNC. Variables/variable categories with P < .05 were significantly associated with PNC. The significance level is anchored at P < .05.

Results

The study showed that almost all respondents (98.7%) have heard about PNC services through health workers (39.7%), media (13.0%), and friends and relatives (47.2%). Most of the respondents (88.7%) have used PNC services within 48 h. Mothers aged 25-39 years were about seven times more likely to utilize PNC compared to those who were less than 25 years old (AOR [adjusted odds ratio] = 7.41, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.98-7.71); mothers with high school education (SHS) and above were also approximately four times more likely to use PNC compared to those who had no formal education (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI 1.97-13.66). In the same vein, married mothers were 10 times more likely to use PNC compared to those who are single mothers (AOR = 10.34, 95% CI: 3.69-28.97), whereas mothers who had at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy were approximately seven times more likely to use PNC compared to those who had less than four ANC visits (AOR = 6.92, 95% CI: 1.46-32.78). Reasons for not attending PNC include waiting time (40.5%), health workers' attitude (32.4%), being attended by a student (16.2%), being busy (27.0%), inadequate information on PNC (24.3%), and no family support (18.9%).

Conclusion

All mothers knew about the PNC services, with a higher proportion patronizing the services. The increasing age, the level of mothers, marital status, and participation in ANC were significant determinants of the use of PNC. More education during ANC on the importance of PNC service is required to achieve universal coverage of PNC.

Mothers experience on neonatal danger signs and associated factors in northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Introduction

even though there is a significant decline in neonatal mortality globally, it remained unacceptably high in Ethiopia. The estimated experience of neonatal danger signs affects the outcome more than the perceived knowledge. The main aim of this study was to estimate the experience of mothers on neonatal danger signs and its associated factors in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 6-16, 2019. All the women who have delivered live birth in the past six months in three districts of Northwest Ethiopia were the source populations. A total of 2424 mothers were selected using two-stage stratified cluster random sampling technique. A pretested and semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from eligible mothers. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors that affected mother´s experiences about neonatal danger signs at a p-value of 5%.

Results

in this study, 2335 (96.3%) mothers completed the interview and 1509 (64.6%) of them have mentioned at least one danger sign. However, only 160 (11.0%) mothers have experienced danger signs in their babies. Of these, about 54 (49.1%) mothers have noticed within 24 hours of delivery and 37 (33.6%) have noticed after 48 hours of delivery. Fifty (45.5%) mothers have noticed the danger signs at home after birth, and 48 (43.6%) have noticed during birth. The frequently reported danger signs were; baby feels hot 106 (66.3%), fast breathing 67(41.9%), and difficulty of breathing 61(38.1%). Mothers who are living in urban, AOR=1.8(95%CI: 1.04,3.0), having multiple pregnancy, AOR=9.8 (95%CI: 2.3,42.0), absence of obstetric danger signs or complication, AOR=0.4 (95%CI: 0.2,0.6), post-term gestational age, AOR=6.5 (95%CI: 2.1,19.5), preterm gestational age, AOR=3.3 (95%CI: 0.8,13.4), assessment by hospital staff during delivery, AOR=2.1 (95% CI: 1.01,4.3), and poor mothers knowledge on neonatal danger signs, AOR=0.7 (95% CI: 0.5,0.9) were the predictors of mothers experience on neonatal danger signs.

Conclusion

even though the knowledge of mothers on neonatal danger signs is high, the practice or experience in using their knowledge is very low. We recommend an implementation study to be conducted to bridge this "know-do" gap.

Utilization of Postnatal Care Service in Indonesia and its Association with Women's Empowerment: An Analysis of 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Survey Data

Objective

The coverage of postnatal care (PNC) is among the lowest globally when compared with other maternal and child interventions. This study aims to assess PNC utilisation in Indonesia and its association with women’s empowerment indicators to provide evidence for the need for policy change.

Methods

Data from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Surveys was analyzed for any use of PNC, early first PNC (within 2 days of birth) and PNC after discharge for newborns. Women’s empowerment factors were calculated using a principal component analysis of 17 indicators. The association between women’s empowerment factors and PNC was assessed using logistic regression adjusted for covariates and complex survey design.

Results

The prevalence of any PNC by skilled professionals in Indonesia was high but PNC after discharge was very low. Labor-force participation and women’s knowledge level were associated with any PNC, but the association between women’s knowledge level and any PNC was modified by place of birth. Disagreement towards justification of wife beating and women’s knowledge level were associated with early PNC but the association was modified by place of birth. Decision-making power was also associated with early PNC but modified by infant’s gender. Disagreement towards justification of wife beating was negatively associated with PNC after discharge, but the association between decision-making power and PNC after discharge was modified by the infant’s size at birth.

Conclusions for Practice

PNC coverage after discharge in Indonesia needs improvement. Women’s empowerment indicators need to be addressed in improving PNC coverage.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10995-021-03324-y.

Determinants of maternal knowledge on neonatal danger signs and care-seeking practices in a rural area of southeastern Ethiopia

Background

Most infants in southeastern Ethiopia are either born at home or discharged from the health facility early and families should be able to recognize signs of newborn illnesses and bring the sick newborn to a health facility to receive care. However, studies are limited and the available studies were conducted in urban areas and/or at an institution level. This study aimed to assess the determinants of maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs and care-seeking practices.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 520 post-natal mothers using a multistage sampling method from 1 to 30 March 2019. The data were analysed using SPSS version 20 using binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was declared at p<0.05.

Results

Mothers’ level of knowledge of neonatal danger signs was 50.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 46.3 to 54.3) and 61% of them sought healthcare when they noticed danger signs. Maternal education level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.15 [95% CI 1.11 to 4.17]), husband's education level (AOR 2.05 [95% CI 1.07 to 3.94]), residency (AOR 5.83 [95% CI 2.77 to 12.24]), antenatal visits (AOR 2.10 [95% CI 1.13 to 3.90]), antenatal care (ANC) counselling (AOR 4.33 [95% CI 1.88 to 9.98]) and knowledge about essential newborn care (AOR 3.91 [95% CI 2.05 to 7.48]) were the determining factors.

Conclusion

The mothers’ level of knowledge of neonatal danger signs was low and unsafe care-seeking practices were identified. The mothers’ education level, husbands’ education level, residence, ANC visits, counselling during ANC and knowledge about essential newborn care were found to be statistically significant determinants. Most of the mothers take their sick neonates to traditional healers and provide home remedies. Intervention modalities focusing on maternal counselling on the most common symptoms of illness in neonates are essential to increase mothers’ recognition of illness and improve care-seeking practices.

Community- based maternal and newborn interventions in Africa: Systematic review

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

This review analysed the implementation and integration into healthcare systems of maternal and newborn healthcare interventions in Africa that include community health workers to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.

BACKGROUND

Most neonatal deaths (99%) occur in low- and middle-income countries, with approximately half happening at home. In resource-constrained settings, community-based maternal and newborn care is regarded as a sound programme for improving newborn survival. Health workers can play an important role in supporting families to adopt sound health practices, encourage delivery in healthcare facilities and ensure timeous referral. Maternal and newborn mortality is a major public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 were not achieved at the end of 2015.

METHODS

The review includes quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method studies, with a data-based convergent synthesis design being used, and the results grouped into categories and trends. The review took into account the participants, interventions, context and outcome frameworks (PICO), and followed the adapted PRISMA format for reporting systematic reviews of the qualitative and quantitative evidence guide checklist.

RESULTS

The results from the 17 included studies focused on three themes: antenatal, delivery and postnatal care interventions as a continuum. The main components of the interventions were inadequate, highlighting the need for improved planning before each stage of implementation. A conceptual framework of planning and implementation was elaborated to improve maternal and newborn health.

CONCLUSION

The systematic review highlight the importance of thoroughly planning before any programme implementation, and ensuring that measures are in place to enable continuity of services.

RELEVANT TO THE CLINICAL PRACTICE

Conceptual framework of planning and implementation of maternal and newborn healthcare interventions by maternal community health workers.

Evaluation of a package of continuum of care interventions for improved maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes and service coverage in Ghana: A cluster-randomized trial

BACKGROUND

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the continuum of care (CoC) for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) is not always complete. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated package of CoC interventions on the CoC completion, morbidity, and mortality outcomes of woman-child pairs in Ghana.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This cluster-randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN: 90618993) was conducted at 3 Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) sites in Ghana. The primary outcome was CoC completion by a woman-child pair, defined as receiving antenatal care (ANC) 4 times or more, delivery assistance from a skilled birth attendant (SBA), and postnatal care (PNC) 3 times or more. Other outcomes were the morbidity and mortality of women and children. Women received a package of interventions and routine services at health facilities (October 2014 to December 2015). The package comprised providing a CoC card for women, CoC orientation for health workers, and offering women with 24-hour stay at a health facility or a home visit within 48 hours after delivery. In the control arm, women received routine services only. Eligibility criteria were as follows: women who gave birth or had a stillbirth from September 1, 2012 to September 30, 2014 (before the trial period), from October 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 (during the trial period), or from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 (after the trial period). Health service and morbidity outcomes were assessed before and during the trial periods through face-to-face interviews. Mortality was assessed using demographic surveillance data for the 3 periods above. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effectiveness as difference in differences (DiD). For health service and morbidity outcomes, 2,970 woman-child pairs were assessed: 1,480 from the baseline survey and 1,490 from the follow-up survey. Additionally, 33,819 cases were assessed for perinatal mortality, 33,322 for neonatal mortality, and 39,205 for maternal mortality. The intervention arm had higher proportions of completed CoC (410/870 [47.1%]) than the control arm (246/620 [39.7%]; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for DiD = 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08 to 2.92; p = 0.024). Maternal complications that required hospitalization during pregnancy were lower in the intervention (95/870 [10.9%]) than in the control arm (83/620 [13.4%]) (AOR for DiD = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.83; p = 0.008). Maternal mortality was 8/6,163 live births (intervention arm) and 4/4,068 live births during the trial period (AOR for DiD = 1.60; 95% CI: 0.40 to 6.34; p = 0.507) and 1/4,626 (intervention arm) and 9/3,937 (control arm) after the trial period (AOR for DiD = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.11 to 1.00; p = 0.050). Perinatal and neonatal mortality was not significantly reduced. As this study was conducted in a real-world setting, possible limitations included differences in the type and scale of health facilities and the size of subdistricts, contamination for intervention effectiveness due to the geographic proximity of the arms, and insufficient number of cases for the mortality assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that an integrated package of CoC interventions increased CoC completion and decreased maternal complications requiring hospitalization during pregnancy and maternal mortality after the trial period. It did not find evidence of reduced perinatal and neonatal mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered in the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Registry (90618993).

Evidence from 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data: association between post health education maternal knowledge and neonatal danger signs

Background

Globally, 4 million infants die in their first 4weeks of life every year; above 8 million infants died before their first year of birthday, and nearly 10 million children died before their 5th birthday. Majority of the deaths were occurred at home because of not receiving health care. In Ethiopia, 120,000 infants died during their first 4 weeks of life. The aim of this study was to assess maternal knowledge about neonatal danger signs and its associations after they had been thought by health professionals in Ethiopia.

Methods

This study used the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data (EDHS) as a data source. The 2016 EDHS data were collected using a two stage sampling method. All the regions were stratified into urban and rural areas. The study sample taken from the 2016 EDHS data and used in this further analysis was 325. A logistic regression model was used to assess the associations with post health education maternal knowledge on neonatal danger signs.

Results

In this study, mothers who had poor knowledge about neonatal danger signs (NDS) were 69.8 % (227) (95 %CI (64.8, 74.8 %). In the final logistic model, wanted no more child ((AOR = 4.15), (95 %CI = 1.12, 15.41)), female child ((AOR = 0.58), (95 %CI = 0.34, 0.98)), primary level maternal education ((AOR = 0.42), (95 %CI = 0.19, 0.92)), secondary level maternal education ((AOR = 0.37), (95 %CI = 0.16, 0.91)), and average size of child ((AOR = 2.64), (95 %CI = 1.26, 5.53)), and small size child ((AOR = 4.53), (95 %CI = 1.52, 13.51)) associated with post health education maternal knowledge about NDS.

Conclusion

The mothers’ knowledge about NDS is poor even they were gave a birth in health facilities. Wanting of additional child, child sex, maternal education and size of child were associated with NDS knowledge. This indicates that the mode of health education provided for mother might not be appropriate and needs protocol changes.

Postnatal care utilisation among women in rural Ghana: analysis of 2014 Ghana demographic and health survey

Background

Maternal mortality is high in Ghana, averaging 310 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017. This is partly due to inadequate postnatal care especially among rural communities. Ghana can avert the high maternal deaths if women meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended early postnatal care check-up. Despite the association between geographical location and postnatal care utilisation, no study has been done on determinants of postnatal care among rural residents in Ghana. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence and correlates of postnatal care utilization among women in rural Ghana.

Methods

The study utilised women’s file of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Following descriptive computation of the prevalence, binary logistic regression was fitted to assess correlates of postnatal care at 95% confidence interval. The results were presented in adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Any AOR less than 1 was interpreted as reduced likelihood of PNC attendance whilst AOR above 1 depicted otherwise. All analyses were done using Stata version 14.0.

Results

The study revealed that 74% of the rural women had postnatal care. At the inferential level, women residing in Savanna zone had higher odds of postnatal care compared to those in the Coastal zone [AOR = 1.80, CI = 1.023–3.159], just as among the Guan women as compared to the Akan [AOR = 7.15, CI = 1.602–31.935]. Women who were working were more probable to utilise postnatal care compared to those not working [AOR = 1.45, CI = 1.015–2.060]. Those who considered distance as unproblematic were more likely to utilise postnatal care compared to those who considered distance as problematic [AOR = 1.63, CI = 1.239–2.145].

Conclusions

The study showed that ethnicity, ecological zone, occupation and distance to health facility predict postnatal care utilisation among rural residents of Ghana. The study points to the need for government to increase maternal healthcare facilities in rural settings in order to reduce the distance covered by women in seeking postnatal care.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-020-03497-4.

Women's knowledge towards neonatal danger signs and its associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Reducing neonatal mortality is an essential part of the third Sustainable Development Goal, to end preventable child deaths. Neonatal danger signs are the most common cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. In Ethiopia, most babies are born at home or are discharged from the health institutions in the first 24 h, as a result enhancing women’s knowledge towards neonatal danger signs and its complication might reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the women knowledge towards neonatal danger signs in Ethiopia.

Method

MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, Google scholar, web of science electronic databases and grey literature from repository were searched for all the available studies. Fourteen cross sectional studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted for the evidence of heterogeneity. Cochrane I² statistics were used to check the heterogeneity of the studies. Egger test with funnel plot were used to investigate publication bias.

Result

Fourteen cross-sectional studies with a total of 6617 study participants were included for this study. The overall pooled prevalence of women’s knowledge towards neonatal danger sign was 40.7% (95%CI, 25.72, 55.67). Having higher educational status of the women (AOR = 3.86, 95%CI: 2.3–6.5), having higher educational status of the husband (AOR = 4.57, 95%CI: 3.29–6.35), access to mass media (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.17–2.23), having antenatal care visits (AOR = 2.63, 95%CI: 1.13–4.67), having postnatal care follow up (AOR = 2.55, 95%CI; 1.72–3.79) and giving birth at health institutions (AOR = 2.51, 95%CI:1.68–3.74) were factors associated with knowledge of the women towards danger sign of the neonate.

Conclusion

In this systematic review and meta-analysis the pooled prevalence of maternal knowledge towards neonatal danger sign was low. Educational status of the mother, educational status of the husband, access to mass media, antenatal care follow-up, postnatal care follow-up and place of delivery were factors associated with knowledge of the mother towards danger sign of the newborn. Promoting antenatal care, postnatal care follow-up and community-based health information dissemination about neonatal danger signs should be strengthened.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42019132179.

The pattern of neonatal admissions and mortality at a regional and district hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana; a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

High global neonatal deaths have triggered efforts to improve facility-based care. However, the outcomes achievable at different levels of care are unclear. This study compared morbidity and mortality patterns of newborns admitted to a regional and a district hospital in Ghana to determine outcome, risk and modifiable factors associated with mortality.

OBJECTIVE

This study compared morbidity and mortality patterns of newborns admitted to a regional and a district hospital in Ghana to determine outcome, risk and modifiable factors associated with mortality.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving a records-review over one year at the Upper West Regional Hospital, and three years at St Joseph's District Hospital, Jirapa was carried out. Age, sex, gestational age, weight, duration of admission, diagnosis, among others were examined. The data were analysed and statistical inference made.

RESULTS

Altogether, 2004 newborns were examined, comprising 1,241(62%) from St Joseph's District Hospital and 763(38%) from Upper West Regional Hospital. The proportion of neonatal deaths was similar, 8.94% (St Joseph's District Hospital) and 8.91% (Upper West Regional Hospital). Prematurity, neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia, low birth weight, neonatal jaundice and pneumonia contributed the most to mortality and suspected infections including malaria accounted for almost half (45.5%). Mortality was significantly associated with duration of stay of 48 hours, being premature, and being younger than 3 days.

CONCLUSION

Majority of the mortality among the neonates admitted was due to preventable causes. Better stabilization and further studies on the epidemiology of sepsis, prematurity, low birth weight, including the contribution of malaria to these and outcome of transferred neonates are needed.

Knowledge of neonatal danger signs, care seeking practice and associated factors among postpartum mothers at public health facilities in Ambo town, Central Ethiopia

Objective

Neonatal mortality has remained high in Ethiopia inspite of different efforts being undertaken to reduce this negative trend. Early detection of neonatal illnesses has an important step towards improving newborn survival. Toward this end, there is a need for postpartum mothers to be able to identify signs in neonates that signifies severe neonatal illnesses. There is limited information about the knowledge of post-partum mothers on NDSs and associated factors in the study area. This study aims to assess knowledge of NDSs, care-seeking practice and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Ambo town, Ethiopia, 2018. A systematic random sampling was employed to select respondents and data was collected through face-to-face interviews. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were utilized.

Results

One-fifth 82 (20.3%) of postpartum mothers have good knowledge about NDSs. Only 60.5% of mothers whom their baby developed danger-sign sought medical care for their baby from health facility immediately. Mothers who have diploma/more education (AOR = 5.25, CI 1.48–18.59), whose current baby developed danger-signs (AOR = 3.18 CI 1.06–9.52), having PNC follow-up (AOR = 2.29, CI 1.24–4.24) and receiving counseling on newborn care after delivery (AOR = 1.78, CI 1.04–3.04) were factors associated with having good knowledge on NDSs. In this study the level of postpartum mother’s knowledge on NDSs and care-seeking practice were low.

Women's overall satisfaction with health facility delivery services in Ghana: a mixed-methods study

Background

Skilled birth delivery has increased up to nearly 74% in Ghana, but its quality has been questioned over the years. As understanding women's satisfaction could be important to improving service quality, this study aimed to determine what factors were associated with women's overall satisfaction with delivery services quantitatively and qualitatively in rural Ghanaian health facilities.

Results

This cross-sectional, mixed methods study used an explanatory sequential design across three Ghana Health Service research areas in 2013. Participants were women who had delivered in the preceding 2 years. Two-stage random sampling was used to recruit women for the quantitative survey. Relationships between women's socio-demographic characteristics and their overall satisfaction with health facility delivery services were examined using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. For qualitative analyses, women who completed the quantitative survey were purposively selected to participate in focus group discussions. Data from the focus group discussions were analyzed based on predefined and emerging themes. Overall, 1130 women were included in the quantitative analyses and 136 women participated in 15 focus group discussions. Women's mean age was 29 years. Nearly all women (94%) were satisfied with the overall services received during delivery. Women with middle level/junior high school education [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.26-0.98)] were less likely to be satisfied with overall delivery services compared to women with no education. Qualitatively, women were not satisfied with the unconventional demands, negative attitude, and unavailability of healthcare workers, as well as the long wait time.

Conclusions

Although most women were satisfied with the overall service they received during delivery, they were not satisfied with specific aspects of the health services; therefore, higher quality service delivery is necessary to improve women's satisfaction. Additional sensitivity training and a reduction in work hours may also improve the experience of clients.

Postnatal care could be the key to improving the continuum of care in maternal and child health in Ratanakiri, Cambodia

In South-East Asia, the maternal and child mortality rate has declined over the past decades; however, it varies among and within the countries in the region, including Cambodia. The continuum of care is an integrated series of care that women and children are required to avail continuously from pregnancy to the child/motherhood period. This study aimed to assess the completion rate of the continuum of care and examine the factors associated with the continuum of care in Ratanakiri, Cambodia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ratanakiri. Overall, 377 women were included, and data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Among them, 5.0% completed the continuum of care (antenatal care at least four times, delivery by skilled birth attendant, and postnatal care at least once). Meanwhile, 18.8% did not receive any care during pregnancy, delivery, and after birth. The highest discontinuation rate was at the postnatal care stage (73.6%). Not receiving any perinatal care was associated with neonatal complications at 6 weeks after birth (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.075; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.310-7.215). Furthermore, a long distance to the health center was negatively associated with completion of the continuum of care (AOR: 0.877; 95% CI: 0.791-0.972). This study indicates the need for efforts to reduce the number of women who discontinue from the continuum of care, as well as who do not receive any care to avoid neonatal complications. Since the discontinuation rate was highest at the postnatal care, postnatal care needs to be promoted more through the antenatal care and delivery services. Furthermore, given that long distance to health facilities was a barrier for receiving the care continuously, our findings suggest the need for a village-based health care system that can provide the basic continuum of care in remote areas.

Low level of knowledge about neonatal danger signs and its associated factors among postnatal mothers attending at Woldia general hospital, Ethiopia

Background

Neonatal mortality has persisted high in Ethiopia in spite of many efforts being applied to decrease this adverse trend. Early detection of neonatal illness is an important step towards improving newborn survival. Toward this end, there is a need for the mothers to be able to identify signs in neonates that signify severe illnesses. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge about neonatal danger signs and its associated factors among postnatal mothers attending at Woldia general hospital, Ethiopian.

Methods

Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted from January–May, 2017. The hospital that provides antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal services was purposively sampled. Structured interviewer managed questionnaire was administered to postnatal mothers attending Woldia general hospital. Frequencies, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were determined using the SPSS software (Version 20).

Results

During the study period 197 mothers attending postnatal care (PNC) service at Woldia general hospital were interviewed. Information on different neonatal danger signs was not provided to 92(46.7%) postnatal mothers during their antenatal clinic attendance by the healthcare providers. The majority of mothers, 174(88.3%) identified less than six neonatal danger signs. The hotness of the body of neonates was the commonly recognized danger sign by 106(53.8%) postnatal mothers. Of the total mothers, 67(34%), 60(30.5%), 56(28.4%), 44(22.3%) recognized unable to breastfeeding, convulsion, lethargy, difficulty in breathing as newly born danger signs, respectively. Out of 197 mothers, 32(16.2%) were giving birth at home. Mother’s age(AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.99–3.08), marital status(AOR = 2.50, 95% CI: 0.29–4.31), mother’s education status(AOR = 3.48, 95% CI:1.57–8.72), husband’s education(AOR = 4.92, 95% CI: 1.29–12.81), attending ANC (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.15, 4.85), mother’s residence(AOR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.47–1.65), information about neonatal danger signs(AOR = 3.48, 95% CI 1.40–9.49) had positive association with maternal level of knowledge to identify different neonatal danger signs.

Conclusion

Maternal knowledge level about neonatal danger signs was very low. Therefore, intervention modalities that focus on increasing level of parental education, access to ANC and PNC service are needed.

Barriers for pregnant women living in rural, agricultural villages to accessing antenatal care in Cambodia: A community-based cross-sectional study combined with a geographic information system

Background

Maternal morbidity and mortality is still a major public health issue in low- and middle-income countries such as Cambodia. Improving access to antenatal care (ANC) services for pregnant women has been widely recognized as one of the most effective means of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. As such, this study examined the barriers for pregnant women living in rural, agricultural villages to accessing ANC based on data collected in the Ratanakiri province, one of the least developed provinces in Cambodia, using a combination of a community-based cross-sectional survey and a geographic information system (GIS).

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 377 mothers with children under the age of two living in 62 villages in the Ratanakiri province, Cambodia, in December 2015. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to ask mothers about their ANC service use, knowledge of ANC, barriers to accessing health facilities, and complications they experienced during the most recent pregnancy. At the same time, GIS data were also collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS) to accurately measure actual travel distance of pregnant women to access health facilities and to examine geographical and environmental barriers in greater detail.

Results

Only a third of the mothers met the recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO) of receiving ANC four times or more (achieved ANC4+), and a quarter of the mothers had never received ANC during their most recent pregnancy. Factors positively associated with achieving ANC4+ were mother’s secondary or higher education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.74, 17.37), being aware that receiving ANC is recommended (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.25, 6.00), and knowledge about the recommended frequency for ANC (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 7.22). Actual travel distance was negatively associated with achieving ANC4+. Mothers who had to travel 10.0–14.9 km were 68% less likely (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.99), and those who had to travel 15.0 km or longer were 79% less likely (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.62) to have achieved ANC 4+, both compared to those who travelled 5.0 km or less. While most previous studies have used a straight-line to measure distance traveled, this study much more accurately measured the actual distance traveled by using a GIS. As a result, there was a statistically significant discrepancy between actual travel distance and straight-line distance.

Conclusions

This study revealed promoting factors and barriers for ANC use among pregnant women living in remote, agricultural villages in Cambodia. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of measuring travel distances accurately to ensure that targeted interventions for ANC are not misguided by straight-line distances. The methodology used in this study can be applied widely to other developing countries, especially in remote areas with limited road networks where there may be a large discrepancy between actual and straight-line distances.

Healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities from two population-based cohort studies in Ghana

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities and families of infants with acute illnesses in rural Ghana.

DESIGN

Two population-based cohort studies.

SETTING

Brong Ahafo Region of central rural Ghana.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 22 955 infants enrolled in a large population-based trial (Neovita trial) from 16 August 2010 to 7 November 2011 and 3141 infants in a circumcision study from 21 May 2012 to 31 December 2012.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

Care seeking for circumcision-related morbidities and acute illnesses unrelated to circumcision.

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty (8.1%) infants from the circumcision study had circumcision-related morbidities and 6265 (27.3%) infants from the Neovita study had acute illnesses unrelated to circumcision. A much lower proportion (35, 15.2%) of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities sought healthcare compared with families of infants with acute illnesses in the Neovita study (5520, 88.1%). More families sought care from formal providers (24, 69%) compared with informal providers (11, 31%) for circumcision-related morbidities. There were no obvious determinants of care seeking for acute illnesses or circumcision-related morbidities in the population.

CONCLUSIONS

Government and non-government organisations need to improve awareness about the complications and care seeking needed for circumcision-related morbidities.