Poor Women’s Access to Antenatal Care and Childbirth Services in Indonesia: Case Study in Five Districts

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Dyan Widyaningsih ◽  
Elza Samantha Elmira ◽  
Andi Misbahul Pratiwi
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Birth Attendants ◽  
Access To Health

<p>The health of pregnant women often becomes an indicator of human development. On the other hand, the fact of the high maternal mortality rate, raises questions related to the government’s attention to the health of pregnant women, especially women in poor areas. This article focuses on poor women’s access to health services for antenatal care and childbirth in five regencies in Indonesia. The aspects studied include the availability of health services for antenatal care and childbirth, poor women’s access to these services, and supporting factors/actors and barriers to poor women’s access to health services. This article showed that the availability of health facilities is not always in line with the increased awareness of pregnant women to access these services. Road infrastructure condition, distance, and cost to access health service still remain a challenge. Meanwhile, the policy of incentives and disincentives to traditional birth attendants has an influence on the increasing number of pregnant women who check their pregnancies and childbirth at health facilities. Thus, health issues of pregnant women and safe childbirth require a different effort. Aspects of the local context and supporting infrastructure also require serious attention.</p><p> </p>

Varzaghan Earthquake Affected Mothers’ and Their Newborns’ Health More Severely, in Socioeconomically Vulnerable Area

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. 511-518
Author(s):  
Mehdi Esfandyari ◽  
Elnaz Vaghef-Mehrabany ◽  
Mehrangiz Ebrahimi-Mameghani
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Family Income ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Moderate Malnutrition

ABSTRACTObjectiveWe aimed to compare the pregnancy status of the pregnant women and birth status of their newborns, socioeconomic status, and access to health services, between high- and low-damage areas in Heris, affected by the Varzaghan Earthquake, 2012.MethodsThe study was conducted on pregnant women at any trimester of pregnancy (with complete medical profiles in local health centers) in August 2012 (time of the earthquake) who lived in Heris and delivered up to March 2013. Data were obtained on pregnancy- and infant-related variables, housing, socioeconomic status, and access to health services, including food supplies, before and after the earthquake.ResultsFamily income and mothers’ education were lower in highly damaged areas. Among these women, underweight at first trimester of pregnancy was higher, and weight gain during the last trimester was lower, compared with low-damage regions. Preterm delivery was higher in low-damage areas. Birth indices of the infants were not significantly different between the 2 areas; however, in highly damaged areas, moderate malnutrition was more prevalent among children under 1 year (weight-for-age) and under 2 years (height-for-age).ConclusionsSocioeconomic status of mothers was lower in highly damaged areas and might have played a role in their own and newborns’ health status. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13: 511-518)

Border Securitisation and the Emerging Health Challenges at the Indo-Bangladesh Borderland

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-253
Author(s):  
Bipin Jojo ◽  
Abhimanyu Datta
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Major Health ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Border Fence ◽  
Illegal Activities ◽  
The Government ◽  
Group Interviews

This article discuses some of the major health challenges and their impact on the Indian families living outside the Indo-Bangladesh border fence. Drawing on the qualitative data of 7 group interviews and 25 in-depth individual interviews conducted in the border area of Karimganj district of Assam, it analyses health issues experienced by people having no access to health services. The article argues that although the purpose of border fencing was to restrict the illegal activities across the border, it is causing serious problems for the Indian population who are left outside the border fence. The strict border rules and restriction in the movements across the border have led to lack of access to necessary health services, and people are experiencing a range of health issues without any treatment. Nevertheless, there is no proper intervention mechanism by the government. The article suggests some measures to address the problems of the border dwellers.

scholarly journals The perception of Italian pregnant women and new mothers about their psychological wellbeing, lifestyle, delivery, and neonatal management experience during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a web-based survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana Stampini ◽  
Alice Monzani ◽  
Silvia Caristia ◽  
Gianluigi Ferrante ◽  
Martina Gerbino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Access To Health

Abstract Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, drastic measures for social distancing have been introduced also in Italy, likely with a substantial impact in delicate conditions like pregnancy and puerperium. The study aimed to investigate the changes in lifestyle, access to health services, and mental wellbeing during the first Italian lockdown in a sample of Italian pregnant women and new mothers. Methods We carried out a web-based survey to evaluate how pregnant women and new mothers were coping with the lockdown. We collected data about healthy habits (physical exercise and dietary habits), access to health services (care access, delivery and obstetric care, neonatal care, and breastfeeding), and mental wellbeing (psychological well-being and emotive support). Descriptive analysis was performed for both groups of participants, whereas a Poisson analysis was used to measure the association between some structural variables (age, education, socio-economic data, partner support, contact, free time, previous children, and pregnancy trimester) and anxiety or depression, difficulties in healthy eating and reduction in physical activity after lockdown started. Chi2 and Adjusted Prevalence Ratios were estimated only for pregnant women. Results We included 739 respondents (response rate 85.8 %), 600 were pregnant (81.2 %), and 139 (18.8 %) had delivered during lockdown (new mothers). We found a high score for anxiety and depression in 62.8 % of pregnant women and 61.9 % of new mothers. During the lockdown, 61.8 % of pregnant women reduced their physical exercise, and 44.3 % reported eating in a healthier way. 94.0 % of new mothers reported to have breastfed their babies during the hospital stay. Regarding the perceived impact of restrictive measures on breastfeeding, no impact was reported by 56.1 % of new mothers, whereas a negative one by 36.7 %. Conclusions The high prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnant women and new mothers should be a public health issue. Clinicians might also recommend and encourage “home” physical exercise. On the other hand, about half of the sample improved their approach towards healthy eating and a very high breastfeeding rate was reported soon after birth: these data are an interesting starting point to develop new strategies for public health.

Access to Health Services in Under Privileged Areas: A Case Study of Mobile Health Units in Tamil Nadu and Orissa

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banuru Muralidhara Prasad ◽  
U. Dash ◽  
V.R. Muraleedharan ◽  
D. Acharya ◽  
S. Lakshminarasimhan
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Mobile Health Units ◽  
Access To Health

scholarly journals Health facility-based counselling and community outreach are associated with maternal dietary practices in a cross-sectional study from Tanzania

BMC Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk A. Dearden ◽  
Ramu Bishwakarma ◽  
Benjamin T. Crookston ◽  
Benesta T. Masau ◽  
Generose I. Mulokozi
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Worker ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Dietary Behaviors ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Dietary Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access To Health

Abstract Background Anemia and underweight among women are major public health challenges. Access to health services can improve dietary behaviors and women’s nutritional status. We examined whether exposure to health services is associated with women’s dietary practices in Tanzania. Methods Data come from a cross-sectional baseline survey among 5000 female primary caregivers who were randomly selected via two-stage sampling, prior to implementing a maternal and child nutrition program. We ran frequencies on women’s exposure to existing health facility-based counselling, community health worker visits, and attendance at women’s support groups. We examined associations between exposure to these interventions and maternal diets and adjusted for sociodemographic covariates using ordinary least squares regression and ordered logistic regression. Results A third of the sample (34.1%) had received any antenatal care (ANC) during their most recent pregnancy or had been advised by anyone about nutrition (37.0%). 68.0% had never had a community health worker (CHW) speak to them about their children’s health and 9.4% had participated in a women’s group. Only 8.0% of mothers ate more than usual during pregnancy and 7.1% ate more types of foods. After adjusting for mother’s age, education and household assets, women who received nutrition advice were 1.3 times (95% CI: 1.1, 1.7) more likely than mothers who did not to eat more during pregnancy. Receiving antenatal care (ANC) and advice on nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy and delivery were highly associated with the mother eating more types of foods. Hearing from a CHW about children’s health but not support group attendance was often associated with various dietary practices. Almost all measures of access to health services were significantly associated with mothers’ frequency of eating in the previous 24 h. Receiving advice on nutrition during pregnancy and after giving birth and CHW contact were associated with mothers’ dietary diversity in the previous 24 h. Conclusions Several program exposure variables—especially being counselled about nutrition—were associated with improved dietary practices. Improving service delivery at scale may contribute to improved dietary behaviors in larger populations, given the associations we describe, along with findings from the existing literature.

The place of social work in improving access to health services among refugees: A case study of Nakivale settlement, Uganda

2020 ◽  
pp. 002087282096219
Author(s):  
Hadijah Mwenyango
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

About 70.8 million individuals are displaced worldwide, and of these, 25.9 million are refugees. Accessibility to health care is a central aspect of the well-being of refugees. This article examines the communication, institutional and socio-cultural challenges to access and use of health services among refugee women and children and conceptualises the social work position in tackling such issues. The study used mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings indicate complex experiences of refuge and ongoing gendered oppression and vulnerability. This research proposes a rights-based social work approach to addressing impediments at micro, meso and macro levels.

scholarly journals Current status of antenatal care of pregnant women—8 provinces in China, 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenling Hu ◽  
Huanqing Hu ◽  
Wei Zhao ◽  
Aiqun Huang ◽  
Qi Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Community Health ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Community Health Services ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Prenatal Care Visit

Abstract Background Antenatal care (ANC) played a crucial role in ensuring maternal and child safety and reducing the risk of complications, disability, and death in mothers and their infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current status of ANC emphasizing the number, timing, and content of examinations on a national scale. Methods The data was collected from maternal and newborn’s health monitoring system at 8 provinces in China. After ethical approval, all pregnant women registered in the system at their first prenatal care visit, we included 49,084 pregnant women who had delivered between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. Descriptive statistics of all study variables were calculated proportions and chi-square for categorical variables. Results Of the 49,084 women included in this study, the mean number of ANC visits was 6.95 ± 3.45. By percentage, 78.79% women received ANC examinations at least five times, 39.93% of the women received ANC examinations at least eight times and 16.66% of the women received ANC examinations at least 11 times. The proportion of first ANC examination in first trimester was 61.87%. The percentage of normative ANC examinations and the percentage of qualified ANC examinations were 30.98 and 8.03% respectively. Only 49.40% of the total women received all six kinds of examination items in first ANC examination: 91.47% received a blood test, 91.62% received a urine test, 81.56% received a liver function examination, 80.52% received a renal function examination, 79.07% received a blood glucose test, and 86.66% received a HIV/HBV/syphilis tests. 50.85% women received the first ANC examination in maternal and child health care (MCH) institutions, 14.07% in a general hospital, 18.83% in a township hospital, 13.15% in a community health services center, and 3.08% in an unspecified place. The proportion of women who received each of the ANC examination items in community health services center was the highest, but that in the MCH institutions was the lowest. Conclusions There is a big difference between the results of this study and the data in official reports, this study found the current status of antenatal care is not optimal in China, findings from this study suggest that the systematization, continuity and quality of ANC examinations need to be improved.

Trends in access to health services and financial protection in China between 2003 and 2011: a cross-sectional study

The Lancet ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 379 (9818) ◽  
pp. 805-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Meng ◽  
Ling Xu ◽  
Yaoguang Zhang ◽  
Juncheng Qian ◽  
Min Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Financial Protection ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access To Health
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