Abstract
BackgroundIn 2012, the WHO described the quality of health care as the route to equity and dignity for women and children.Aim of the workTo provide community based support and empowerment to women in childbearing period to seek optimal prenatal, natal and postnatal healthcare. Achieving this is anticipated to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality in Egypt.Subjects and methodsAn interventional study was conducted among women in childbearing period in the poorest two governorates of Upper Egypt. The study passed through three stages over three and a half years; pre-interventional assessment of awareness (n = 1000), educational interventions targeting the health providers and all women in childbearing period in their communities (n = 20,494), and post-intervention evaluation of change in awareness of their rights for prenatal, natal and postnatal care (no = 1150).ResultsThe studied indicators relating to receiving care in pregnancy, labor, and puerperium have changed dramatically as a result of the study interventions. Results of the study showed that before interventions, the surveyed women had inaccurate knowledge regarding most of the items related to their rights. The percentages of women aware of their right to have pregnancy card increased and those who possessed a pregnancy card were doubled with a significant percent change of more than 25%. Some indicators showed more than 75% improvement, including; percent of surveyed women who knew that it’s their right to follow up their pregnancy and to deliver with a specialized doctor, a trained nurse or at an equipped health facility, and those who knew their right to have at least two home preparations necessary for safe delivery at home.Conclusion and recommendationsMore work is needed in order to achieve the targeted reduction of maternal mortality. This could be achieved by ensuring accessible and high quality care provided by the governmental health facilities together with increasing the awareness of women regarding their rights in receiving such care.
Highlights
In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) described the quality of health care as the route to equity and dignity for women and children
Some indicators showed more than 75% improvement, including; percent of surveyed women who knew that it’s their right to follow up their pregnancy and to deliver with a specialized doctor, a trained nurse or at an equipped health facility, and those who knew their right to have at least two home preparations necessary for safe delivery at home
Another barrier for utilizing antenatal care (ANC) natal care and postnatal care was found to be the poor quality of health care provided by their health providers which undermines the trust people have in those services [8]
Summary
In 2012, the WHO described the quality of health care as the route to equity and dignity for women and children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. Utilizing the reproductive right can decrease pregnancy related morbidity and mortality and give women the autonomy to make decisions about their lives including their reproductive life [5] This could be a step to achieve the millennium development goal number five which focuses on improving maternal health including eliminating inequity by ensuring universal access to maternal health services [6]. Egyptian women who did not receive ANC were found to have up to 10 times higher risk of deaths compared to those who received ANC [9]
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