Supply-side barriers and health system concerns in five high maternal mortality settings in Africa
Maternal and child health
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Issue: 1
(02 - 2021)
Background: Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria are among the
seven African countries with the highest rates of maternal mortality globally due in the main
limited facility deliveries and basic emergency obstetric care.
Data Source and Methods: The study sought to contextualize supply-side barriers that encroach on
maternal mortality by examining some health system concerns confronting selected African countries.
The study makes use of data from the World Bank and adopts a descriptive-analytic approach. Current
Health Expenditure of less than I 0% in four countries and Domestic General Government Health
Expenditure of less than 2% in all five countries evinced underfunding of health.
Results: In all five countries, the proportion of skilled health workers fell well short of the WHO
requirements for density of doctors and nurses.
Conclusion: The onus on individuals to pay for health care was formidable in Nigeria. CAR had the
lowest proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel. CAR and Sierra Leone relied
heavily on External resources for funding health.
Keywords: Maternal mortality, maternal health, obstetric care, Africa, health system
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