Mixed-methods research finds improved prenatal care adherence and birth outcomes in urban South Africa, suggesting service expansion benefits.
Urban South African women have historically faced barriers to accessing prenatal care due to inadequate maternal health services. A mixed-methods approach including surveys, interviews, and secondary data analysis was employed to assess service utilization and its effects. Prenatal care adherents had a lower risk of adverse birth outcomes (OR = 0.67; CI: 0.48-0.92) compared to non-adherers, suggesting improved services positively impacted adherence. Expansion of maternal health services in urban South Africa correlated with enhanced prenatal care adherence and better birth outcomes. Continued support for service expansion is recommended alongside community engagement strategies. Maternal Health Services, Prenatal Care Adherence, Birth Outcomes, Urban South Africa
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Khumalo et al. (2005) studied this question.
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