Silal, Sheetal PPenn-Kekana, LovedayHarris, BronwynBirch, StephenMcIntyre, Diane2012-07-102012-07-1020122012-05Silal, 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:10.1186/1472-6963-12-1201472-6963http://hdl.handle.net/10625/49718While 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.Text1 digital file (19 p.)application/pdfenSOUTH AFRICAMATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTHHEALTH STATISTICSACCESS TO SERVICESRURAL HEALTHMATERNAL MORTALITYHEALTH FACILITIESHEALTH PERSONNELPREGNANCYCHILDBIRTHOBSTETRICSSOUTH OF SAHARARURAL WOMENRURAL POVERTYJournal Article (peer-reviewed)