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Community‐Based Situation Analysis of Maternal and Neonatal Care in South Africa to Explore Factors that Impact Utilization of Maternal Health Services
Author(s) -
Tlebere Pulani,
Jackson Debra,
Loveday Marian,
Matizirofa Lyness,
Mbombo Nomafrench,
Doherty Tanya,
Wigton Alyssa,
Treger Latasha,
Chopra Mickey
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of midwifery and women's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1542-2011
pISSN - 1526-9523
DOI - 10.1016/j.jmwh.2007.03.016
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , focus group , nursing , situation analysis , qualitative research , health care , situational ethics , quality (philosophy) , medicine , developing country , service provider , environmental health , psychology , service (business) , business , economic growth , sociology , social psychology , social science , philosophy , epistemology , marketing , economics
This community situational analysis determined factors impacting the utilization of maternal health services in South Africa. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used, including semistructured household interviews, case studies of women with no antenatal care and/or home birth, and verbal/social autopsies of maternal and infant deaths, conducted in three diverse sites across the country. Data analysis used quantitative statistics for the semistructured interviews and a qualitative thematic content approach for the case studies and verbal/social autopsies. Each component was analyzed separately and then triangulated. The following themes emerged: 1) transport and distance to care were the biggest problems, particularly in rural areas; 2) providers' communication with families was very poor; 3) health‐seeking behavior was better than anticipated; 4) treatment by health providers and quality of care showed mixed results; 5) HIV/AIDS is a major issue; however, basic maternity and neonatal service quality cannot be overlooked; and 6) families and communities are an untapped resource for improving maternal and neonatal health. Implications for maternal and infant health care in developing countries are discussed, with a particular focus on barriers to utilization and involvement of communities and families in maternity care.