Association between language barrier and inadequate prenatal care utilization among migrant women in the PreCARE prospective cohort study

[Maternal mortality among socially vulnerable women in France 2016-2018]

Social vulnerability is a known factor in perinatal medical risk, both for the foetus and the mother. As part of the French confidential enquiry into maternal deaths, the introduction in 2015 of specific items relating to social status has made it possible to recreate this composite variable. Over the period 2016-2018, one woman in three who died was in a situation of social vulnerability. Of these 79 deaths, 32 (41%) were related to direct obstetric causes, 26 (33%) to indirect obstetric causes, 12 (15%) to suicides and 8 (10%) of unknown cause. Care was considered sub-optimal in 73% of cases, compared with 64% in the group of maternal deaths with no identified social vulnerability. 43 deaths were judged to be probably (n=12) or possibly (n=31) avoidable, 25 were not avoidable, and 11 were not sufficiently documented for this assessment; i.e. a proportion of 63% of probable or possible avoidability, a higher proportion compared with the 56% of avoidability among women with no identified social vulnerability. In 1/3 of maternal deaths, a lack of interaction between the woman and the healthcare system was involved in the chain of events leading to death, i.e. 2 times more than in the case of socially non-vulnerable women. Improving the interaction of women in socially vulnerable situations with the hospital system and the institutional and voluntary networks providing care, support and assistance is a priority. A specific, responsive medical and social organisation could contribute to this.

Socio-demographic influence on the pregnant women's comprehension of maternal health information in Tanzania

Background

Pregnant women's understanding of maternal health information is critical in the application of information for pregnancy care, birth preparedness, and newborn care. However, the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on pregnant women's understanding of maternal health information is least understood.

Purpose

The study examined the influence of social and demographic characteristics on pregnant women's comprehension of maternal health information.

Methodology

A mixed research approach and descriptive cross-sectional design were applied. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data from 132 pregnant women and 8 nurses/midwives. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21 and thematic analysis.

Findings

Most of the pregnant women had a good ability to comprehend maternal health information. Level of education was found to influence the reading ability and language understanding ability of the pregnant women unlike age, marital status, income, and occupation. Age, level of education, monthly income, occupation, and marital status were found to influence the ability of pregnant women to understand maternal health information.

Conclusion

The socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women have an influence on their ability to comprehend maternal health information.