Abstract
BackgroundMalawi is grappling with a high maternal mortality of 439 per 100 000 live births. It is estimated that 80% of maternal deaths can be prevented by actively engaging the community in the country. However, community support on safe motherhood remains unknown.AimThis study, therefore, explored community support rendered to mothers and babies during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods.SettingThis study was conducted in the Lilongwe District, Malawi.MethodsThis was a qualitative study that collected data from 30 village health committee members through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThis study found that community support on safe motherhood rendered to women varied. The following five themes emerged from FGDs data on community support on safe motherhood: antenatal support, intrapartum support, postpartum support, bylaws reinforced by chiefs in the community and safe motherhood support groups. Community members encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal care, escorted pregnant women to the hospital for delivery and assisted women to care for a child and go for postpartum checkups. Community bylaws were considered as a necessary tool for encouraging women to attend antenatal care, deliver at the health facility and attend postpartum checkups.ConclusionThis study suggests that community members play a crucial role in providing support to women and newborns during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods.
Highlights
Malawi is grappling with a high maternal mortality of 439 per 100 000 live births,[1] and these maternal deaths occurred during the postpartum period (62.0%), antenatal (20.4%), intrapartum (9.2%) and early pregnancy from complications of abortion and ectopic pregnancy (8.4%).[2]
The following five themes emerged from focus group discussion (FGD) data on community support on safe motherhood: antenatal support, intrapartum support, postpartum support, bylaws reinforced by chiefs in the community and safe motherhood support groups
This study suggests that community members provide support to women and newborns during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods
Summary
Malawi is grappling with a high maternal mortality of 439 per 100 000 live births,[1] and these maternal deaths occurred during the postpartum period (62.0%), antenatal (20.4%), intrapartum (9.2%) and early pregnancy from complications of abortion and ectopic pregnancy (8.4%).[2]. Safe motherhood includes direct and indirect efforts to reduce deaths and disabilities resulting from pregnancy and childbirth by ensuring that every woman has access to a full range of high‐quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health services, maternal and newborn care and treatment of obstetric emergencies.[4] The Malawi Ministry of Health estimated that almost 80% of maternal deaths can be prevented in Malawi by actively engaging the community.[5] This was in recognition that communities are a valuable source of information on why women and newborns die during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods, and their participation may be critical in improving maternal health.[6] The most common causes of maternal mortality during the postpartum period in Malawi are postpartum haemorrhage, sepsis and infection, and for the newborns or neonates, the cases are intrapartum related including birth asphyxia, prematurity and sepsis.[7].
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