20 research outputs found
Beyond the numbers of maternal near-miss in Rwanda â a qualitative study on womenâs perspectives on access and experiences of care in early and late stage of pregnancy
Factors associated with prelacteal feeding in the rural population of northwest Ethiopia: a community cross-sectional study
A geospatial analysis of the impacts of maternity care fee payment policies on the uptake of skilled birth care in Ghana
Obstetric Danger Signs and Factors Affecting Health Seeking Behaviour among the Kassena-Nankani of Northern Ghana: A Qualitative Study
Improving community membersâ knowledge of obstetric danger signs is one strategy for increasing the use of skilled care during pregnancy and the puerperium. This study explored knowledge of obstetric danger signs among a range of community members, examined the sources of their information, and the perceived factors that affect health seeking behaviour in rural northern Ghana. We conducted 72 in-depth interviews and 18 focus groups with community members. All interactions were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using NVivo 9.0. Community members demonstrated knowledge of a wide range of obstetric danger signs, including excessive bleeding, stomach aches, waist pains, vomiting and fever. Pregnant women learn about danger signs from a range of providers, and regular contact with formal providers typically coincided with increased knowledge of danger signs. Traditional remedies for problems in obstetrics are plentiful and cultural beliefs often restrict the use of allopathic medicine. Increasing knowledge of obstetric danger signs is necessary but not sufficient to overcome cultural preferences for traditional treatments for pregnancy danger signs. (Afr J Reprod Health 2014; 18[3]: 78-86)Keywords: Obstetric danger signs, knowledge of danger signs, health seeking behaviour, antenatal care, maternal health, Ghan
Does knowledge on socio-cultural factors associated with maternal mortality affect maternal health decisions? A cross-sectional study of the Greater Accra region of Ghana
Socio-demographic and environmental determinants of infectious disease morbidity in children under 5 years in Ghana
Knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and subsequent healthcare seeking actions among women in Urban Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
Clean delivery practices in rural northern Ghana: a qualitative study of community and provider knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs
BACKGROUND: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of community members and healthcare providers in rural northern Ghana regarding clean delivery are not well understood. This study explores hand washing/use of gloves during delivery, delivering on a clean surface, sterile cord cutting, appropriate cord tying, proper cord care following delivery, and infant bathing and cleanliness. METHODS: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 9.0. RESULTS: 253 respondents participated, including women with newborn infants, grandmothers, household and compound heads, community leaders, traditional birth attendants, and formally trained health care providers. There is widespread understanding of the need for clean delivery to reduce the risk of infection to both mothers and their babies during and shortly after delivery. Despite this understanding, the use of gloves during delivery and hand washing during and after delivery were mentioned infrequently. The need for a clean delivery surface was raised repeatedly, including explicit discussion of avoiding delivering in the dirt. Many activities to do with cord care involved non-sterile materials and practices: 1) Cord cutting was done with a variety of tools, and the most commonly used were razor blades or scissors; 2) Cord tying utilized a variety of materials, including string, rope, thread, twigs, and clamps; and 3) Cord care often involved applying traditional salves to the cord - including shea butter, ground shea nuts, local herbs, local oil, or âred earth sand.â Keeping babies and their surroundings clean was mentioned repeatedly as an important way to keep babies from falling ill. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a widespread understanding in rural northern Ghana of the need for clean delivery. Nonetheless, many recommended clean delivery practices are ignored. Overarching themes emerging from this study included the increasing use of facility-based delivery, the disconnect between healthcare providers and the community, and the critical role grandmothers play in ensuring clean delivery practices. Future interventions to address clean delivery and prevention of neonatal infections include educating healthcare providers about harmful traditional practices so they are specifically addressed, strengthening facilities, and incorporating influential community members such as grandmothers to ensure success