Black women died during or soon after pregnancy at higher rates than any other racial group in every year from 1999 to 2019. American Indian and Alaska Native women had the greatest increase in risk during this period.
Rural women in Nigeria negotiate healthcare decisions with their partners.
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A March of Dimes report gave the US a grade of D+ for maternal and infant health care, highlighting that the national preterm birth rate hit 10.5% in 2021, a record 15-year high.
Abortion bans and restrictions have numerous downstream effects on health care. For instance, medical students in states where those laws exist will not receive training for some standard procedures.
Poorer maternity care may be one explanation.
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Rahima Moosa Hospital caters for a very large number of women and children. The large patient numbers and high burden of care have a negative impact on the hospital.
Kenya has seen an overall improvement in maternal and newborn health outcomes.
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User fees is a major barrier to healthcare, including maternal and newborn care in Kenya.
According to the CDC’s latest numbers, 65% of pregancy-related deaths occur in the first year following childbirth.
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Studies in poor countries have highlighted disparities in respectful and responsive care during childbirth based on women’s socioeconomic status and other characteristics.
One of the first babies born on 1 January 2020 in Lagos, Nigeria.
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With the introduction of free maternal healthcare, Nigeria appears to have got more women using health facilities, but there are more hurdles to cross.