Exploring inequalities in access to and use of maternal health services in South Africa

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IDL-49718.pdf (121.03 KB)

Date

2012-05

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Abstract

While health system barriers to obstetric care have been well documented, “patient-oriented” barriers have been neglected. This article explores affordability, availability and acceptability barriers to obstetric care in South Africa. Rural women face the greatest barriers, including longest travel times, highest costs associated with delivery, and lowest levels of service acceptability. Negative provider-patient interactions include: staff inattentiveness, turning away women in early-labour, shouting at patients, and insensitivity towards those who had experienced stillbirths. To achieve its MDGs, South Africa must systematically address the access constraints as well as altering the attitudes and actions of health care providers.

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Keywords

SOUTH AFRICA, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, HEALTH STATISTICS, ACCESS TO SERVICES, RURAL HEALTH, MATERNAL MORTALITY, HEALTH FACILITIES, HEALTH PERSONNEL, PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, OBSTETRICS, SOUTH OF SAHARA, RURAL WOMEN, RURAL POVERTY

Citation

Silal, S. P., Penn-Kekana, L., Harris, B., Birch, S., & McIntyre, D. (2012). Exploring inequalities in access to and use of maternal health services in South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 12 (120). doi:10.1186/1472-6963-12-120

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/49718

DOI

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Health Systems Research / recherche sur les systèmes de santé
Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) / la santé de la mère, du nouveau-né, et de l’enfant
Research Results (GHRI) / Résultats de recherches (IRSM)
Teasdale-Corti Global Health Research Partnership (TC) / partenariat Teasdale-Corti de recherche en santé mondiale