Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa.
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa.
Afr J Reprod Health. 2020 Dec;24(4):147-163. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2020/v24i4.16.
Maternal mortality is a global problem, particularly in developing countries. This study explored perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of women of reproductive age concerning maternal deaths in Qaukeni Sub-District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This was a community-based qualitative study using using in-depth interviews among women of reproductive age. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found some of the mothers knew the causes, signs and symptoms of pregnancy as well as danger signs during pregnancy such as haemorrhage, sepsis, high blood pressure and complications of unsupervised home deliveries, while others had little knowledge about these signs and symptoms. The participants indicated that using herbal medications during pregnancy could result to serious complications and even maternal death. Women do not attend antenatal care because of the long distances, absence of clinics, shortage of nurses and doctors; thus, predisposing women to deliver at homes with the assistance of traditional birth attendants, who had limited knowledge related to health issues and the Prevention of Mother- to-Child-Transmission programme. The findings indicated that some women are knowledgeable about the causes of maternal deaths during pregnancy as well as the signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Health education during pregnancy and provision of better resources would help improve the maternal health of women in this rural setting.
孕产妇死亡率是一个全球性问题，特别是在发展中国家。本研究探讨了南非东开普省夸肯尼分区育龄妇女对孕产妇死亡的看法、知识和态度。这是一项基于社区的定性研究，采用对育龄妇女进行深入访谈。使用主题分析对数据进行分析。研究发现，一些母亲了解怀孕的原因、迹象和症状以及怀孕时的危险迹象，如出血、败血症、高血压和无人监督的家庭分娩并发症，而其他母亲对这些迹象和症状知之甚少。参与者表示，怀孕期间使用草药药物可能会导致严重的并发症，甚至孕产妇死亡。由于距离远、诊所缺失、护士和医生短缺，妇女不去接受产前护理；因此，她们倾向于在家中分娩，由传统的接生员协助，这些接生员在与健康问题和预防母婴传播项目相关的知识方面有限。研究结果表明，一些妇女了解怀孕期间导致孕产妇死亡的原因以及怀孕的迹象和症状。怀孕期间的健康教育和提供更好的资源将有助于改善农村地区妇女的母婴健康。
