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

Authors

  • Danielle Yugbare Belemsaga Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso
  • Seni Kouanda Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso Institut Africain de Santé Publique, Burkina Faso
  • Anne Goujon Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, Austria
  • Joel A. Kiendrebeogo Centre Muraz, Burkina Faso
  • Els Duysburgh International Centre for Reproductive Health, Belgium
  • Olivier Degomme International Centre for Reproductive Health, Belgium
  • Marleen Temmerman Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Switzerland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v28i2.4866

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. Seventyfive 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 signifiHealthcantly to improving the frequency of mothers’ postpartum visits. Key words: postpartum care, postnatal care, maternal and child health, health interventions, health strategies, sub-Saharan Africa 

Author Biographies

Danielle Yugbare Belemsaga, Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso

Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso

Seni Kouanda, Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso Institut Africain de Santé Publique, Burkina Faso

Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina FasoInstitut Africain de Santé Publique, Burkina Faso

Anne Goujon, Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, Austria

Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, Austria

Joel A. Kiendrebeogo, Centre Muraz, Burkina Faso

Centre Muraz, Burkina Faso

Els Duysburgh, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Belgium

International Centre for Reproductive Health, Belgium

Olivier Degomme, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Belgium

International Centre for Reproductive Health, Belgium

Marleen Temmerman, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Switzerland

Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Switzerland

Downloads

Published

2015-09-16

How to Cite

Belemsaga, D. Y., Kouanda, S., Goujon, A., Kiendrebeogo, J. A., Duysburgh, E., Degomme, O., & Temmerman, M. (2015). A review of factors associated with the utilization of healthcare services and strategies for improving postpartum care in Africa. frika ocus, 28(2). https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v28i2.4866

Issue

Section

Articles