A review of factors associated with the utilization of healthcare services and strategies for improving postpartum care in Africa

Type Journal Article - Afrika Focus
Title A review of factors associated with the utilization of healthcare services and strategies for improving postpartum care in Africa
Author(s)
Volume 28
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 83-105
URL https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Goujon/publication/289927961_A_review_of_factors_associate​d_with_the_utilization_of_healthcare_services_and_strategies_for_improving_postpartum_care_in_Africa​/links/56937b1b08aec14fa55e8aab.pdf
Abstract
Reducing maternal mortality continues to be a major challenge for African countries. We conducted
a literature review to identify the factors associated with the utilization of maternal and child
healthcare services during the postpartum period and the strategies for strengthening postpartum
healthcare in Africa. We carried out an electronic search in several databases of texts published between
1995 and 2012 related to maternal and child health. Seventy-five publications fitted the eligibility
criteria. Our analysis shows that to a large extent the socio-economic context was dominant
among the factors associated with the quality and utilization of postpartum services. The best
interventions were those on immediate postpartum maternal care combining several intervention
packages such as community mobilization and provision of services, community outreach
services and health training. The integration within health facilities of mother and child clinics
was shown to contribute significantly to improving the frequency of mothers’ postpartum visits.

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