Maternal death rates are higher in the U.S. than in other high-income countries.
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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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Rural women in Nigeria circumvent patriarchy to make decisions on their healthcare.
Maternal and infant health crises are growing worse in the U.S.
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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.
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Without policies that take account of a growing population with few working-age people, DRC risks seeing an increase in poverty and hunger.
A premature infant receives care at Koidu Government Hospital in Kono, Sierra Leone.
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The last decade has seen no measurable change in global preterm birth rates in any region of the world.
The range of reproductive health care available to women depends significantly on the state they live in.
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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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A recent report found that black women are four times more likely to die while pregnant or just after childbirth, compared with white women.
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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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Many of the preventable pregnancy-related deaths documented by the CDC are directly attributable to failures and barriers in the maternal care system.
Nigeria’s large population of young people may become a burden if not healthy and well educated.
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Nigeria must prioritise investment in education, health and infrastructure to harness the opportunities of its huge population.
Maternal care should be respectful and dignified.
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For every maternal death, there are about an additional 20 women who suffer serious injuries, infections and disabilities related to pregnancy.
Banning abortion can have health consequences for pregnant people.
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Carrying a pregnancy to term is riskier than having an abortion, especially for non-Hispanic Black women.
Traffic delays can be a matter of life or death for women in Lagos state, Nigeria.
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Using data from the popular navigation app, researchers have pinpointed the areas of Lagos, Nigeria, where emergency obstetric care is most needed.
Mothers wait with their babies to receive treatment at a dispensary .
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The average Nigerian woman or child faces a host of hindrances in accessing health services.
Children are eating too much poor nutrient quality food and too little of good nutrient quality food.
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Malnutrition during the first 1000 days of life can cast a long shadow over a person’s life.
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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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Unfortunately, disrespectful and neglectful treatment of women during childbirth, including verbal, physical and emotional abuse is not uncommon.
A simple, low-tech way to get rid of germs.
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A Hungarian obstetrician was the first to nail down the importance of handwashing to stop the spread of infectious disease.
What mattered most to mothers using Nigeria’s free maternal health services was that their babies were healthy.
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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.