Reducing maternal mortality

Boeny region is seeing an improvement in maternal health, with a rise in pregnancy monitoring and delivery supervision at health centers. Pregnant women are increasingly visiting basic health centers (CSBs) to monitor their pregnancies and deliveries.

Prenatal consultations have increased compared to previous years when mothers would only come in for delivery. According to Adèle Nadya Lalanimarina, head of the CSB II in Mahavoky Sud, it is now rare for pregnant women not to receive medical follow-up during their pregnancy.

Community health workers, supported by the USAID/Access health program, aim to identify pregnant women and inform them about the importance of consulting a healthcare professional. Additionally, it’s essential to understand the reasons behind their reluctance to attend a health center. Some express dissatisfaction with the slow service in health centers, while the distance between the centers and villages poses another challenge. Many women tend to rely on traditional birth attendants (matrons).

The findings from these « mini-surveys » have prompted health facilities to reassess their approach. In the past, prenatal appointments were scheduled only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Now, pregnant women have the flexibility to visit the center at their convenience. The collaboration between healthcare professionals and traditional birth attendants is also aimed at increasing the number of prenatal consultations and deliveries in health centers. These behavioral changes and new approaches are expected to contribute to a reduction in maternal mortality rates, which remain high in Madagascar.