ABSTRACT
Available evidence shows that only a small proportion of Nigerian women access postnatal care and practice exclusive breastfeeding. Given that both interventions are critical to the survival of both the mother and the new born; it is important to identify factors that militate against an effective postnatal care and exclusive breastfeeding in the country; in order to scale up services. The aim was to determine the major barriers to postnatal care and exclusive breastfeeding among urban women in southeastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 400 urban market women using semistructured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Results: Out of 400 women interviewed; 365 (91.7) attended postnatal clinic. Lack of knowledge about postnatal care services (42.2; n = 14); distant location of the hospitals (36.4; n = 12) and feeling that postnatal visits was not necessary (21.1; n = 7) were the main reasons for non-attendance to postnatal clinic. With respect to exclusive breastfeeding; 143 (35.9) of the women practiced EBF. The main reasons for nonpractice of EBF were that EBF was very stressful (26.2; n = 67); mother's refusal (23.5; n = 60); and the feeling that EBF was not necessary (18.1; n = 46). Thirty five (13.7) of the women were constrained by time while the husband's refusal accounted for 1.5 (n = 3) of the reasons for nonpractice of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: Poor knowledge and inaccessibility to health facilities were the main obstacles to postnatal care while the practice of exclusive breastfeeding was limited by the stress and mothers refusal
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding , Educational Status , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Maternal-Child Nursing , Postnatal Care , SurvivalABSTRACT
"Background: High rates of perinatal mortality and morbidity and maternal mortality in South Africa remain a major problem. The Saving Mothers and Saving Babies Reports identified patient-related factors as possible causes. Among the patient-related factors was non-attendance; or attendance late in pregnancy; for antenatal care in public hospitals. It would appear that pregnant women confirm their pregnancies by visiting general practitioners; but do not attend antenatal care in the public sector. The aim of this study was to determine healthcare attendance patterns among pregnant women in Durban; South Africa.Methods This was a descriptive study. Participants were recruited and categorised into ""early booker""; ""late booker"" and ""unbooked in labour"" groups. All the participants were interviewed individually using a structured questionnaire. Results: The majority of participants presented for formal ""booking"" late in pregnancy; 47.9""booked"" at a gestationalage of six months after the last menstrual period. Among the ""early bookers""; the majority (94.4) had confirmed their pregnancy by four months of amenorrhoea; and 60.6of these confirmed their pregnancies within the public health sector. All the ""early bookers"" began antenatal care prior to the 20th week of gestation.A total of 66.9of the ""late bookers"" and 66.7of the ""unbooked"" women also had their pregnancies confirmed at four months amenorrhoea; but 49.0of the ""late bookers"" and 59.8of the ""unbooked"" women confirmed their pregnancies in the private health sector. The ""late bookers"" also showed a delay of two to three months between confirming the pregnancy and booking visits. Of the women in this study; 49visited a general practitioner (GP) to confirm the pregnancy after two to four months of amenorrhoea. This figure rose to 53.0if only the ""late bookers"" and the ""unbooked"" were analysed. Further; 35.3visited a GP more than once; either for antenatal care or because of ill health. ConclusionIt is imperative for GPs to understand the role of antenatal care and to refer pregnant women appropriately."
Subject(s)
Maternal Health Services , Maternal Mortality , Maternal-Child Nursing , Pregnant WomenABSTRACT
Dans cet article les auteurs decrivent l'expression de la consultation integree mere-enfant (CIME) qui caracterise le fonctionnement du service de pediatrie HS/BE
Subject(s)
Community Health Services , Hospitals , Maternal-Child NursingABSTRACT
L'anthropometrie des 322 enfants (173 garcons; 149 filles; age 0-98 mois) vus en consultation de protection materno-infantile a l'Hopital Protestant de Dabou revele un taux important d'enfants sous-alimentes: 83;3 pour cent des enfants ont un rapport poids/age inferieur a 70 pour cent et une prevalence de la malnutrition averee de 11;18 pour cent (rapport poids/age inferieur a 2-DS). La combinaison de divers indices anthropometriques (rapport poids/age; poids/taille et taille/age) permet d'etudier l'etat de maigreur de l'enfant par rapport a l'etat actuel de son alimentation. Ceci offre l'avantage de distinguer; entre autres; les petites tailles constitutionnelles de celles par carences; et par consequent de mieux personnaliser le suivi et les conseils nutritionnels a donner lors de la consultation de protection maternelle et infantile