Postpartum Health among Rural Zambian Women

Marieke Lagro, Agnes Liche, Theresa Mumba, Ruth Ntebeka and Jos van Roosmalen

Abstract

Health problems after childbirth have received little attention compared to maternal morbidity in the antenatal period and during labour. We conducted a hospital-based study to investigate postpartum health problems in rural Zambian women. Health problems are very common: 84% of the 620 study participants reported at least one health problem. The majority of women who experienced a health problem took action to relieve the complaint. High vaginal swabs were used to diagnose a genital tract infection. Seventeen per cent of the swabs were abnormal; most women with abnormal result showed no symptoms of genital tract infection. Ninety three per cent of women with symptoms suggestive of a genital tract infection did not seek medical attention. Further research is needed to estimate the impact of self-reported health problems on women's daily lives. Women should be educated on specific conditions that require medical care. More information is also needed on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in antenatal and postpartum women including the feasibility of mass screening and treatment in this group of women. (Afr J Reprod Health 2003; 7[3]: 41-48)

 

Keywords: Postpartum morbidity, genital tract infection, health-seeking behaviour, hospital-based study, Zambia

Full Text:

XML

References

Liskin LS. Maternal morbidity in developing countries: a review and comments. Int J GynaecolObstet 1992; 37: 77_87.

Postpartum care of mother and newborn: a practical guide. World Health Organization, 1998.

Glazener CMA, Abdalla M, Stroud P, Naji S, Templeton A and Russell IT. Postnatal maternal morbidity: extent, causes, prevention and treatment. Br J ObstetGynaecol 1995; 102: 282_287.

Albers LA. Health problems after childbirth. J Midwif Women Health 2000; 45: 55_57.

Brown S and Lumley J. Maternal health after childbirth: results of an Australian population based survey. Br J ObstetGynaecol 1998; 105: 156_161.

Saurel-Cubizolles M-J, Romito P, Lelong N and Ancel P-Y. Women's health after childbirth: a longitudinal study in France and Italy. Br J ObstetGynaecol 2000; 107: 1202_1209.

Prual A, Huguet D, Garbin O and Rabé G. Severe obstetric morbidity of the third trimester, delivery and early puerperium in Niamey (Niger). Afr J Reprod Health 1998; 2: 10_19.

Prual A, Bouvier-Colle M-H, de Bernis L and Bréart G. Severe maternal morbidity from direct obstetric causes in West- Africa: incidence and fatality rates. Bull World Health Organization 2000; 78: 593_602.

de Bernis L, Dumont , Bouillin D, Gueye A, Dompnier J-P and Bouvier-Colle M-H. Maternal morbidity and mortality in two different populations in Senegal: a prospective study (MOMA survey). Br J ObstetGynaecol 2000; 107: 68_74.

Bhatia JC. Levels and determinants of maternal morbidity: results from a community based study in Southern India. Int J Gynaecol 1995; 50(suppl): S153_S163.

Bhatia JC and Cleland J. Obstetric morbidity in South India: results from a community survey. ScoSci Med 1996; 43: 1507_1516.

De Silva WI. Puerperal morbidity: a neglected area of maternal health in Sri Lanka. SocBiol 1998; 45: 223_245.

Uzma A, Underwood P, Atkinson D and Thackrah R. Postpartum health in a Dhaka slum. SocSci Med 1999; 48: 313_320.

Nsemulika BG, Phiri DS, Diallo HM, Banda SS, KalundeBenaya W and Kitahara N. A study of factors associated with maternal mortality in Zambia, 1998. Ministry of Health, Lusaka 1998.

Ransjö-Arvidson AB, Chintu K, N'gandu N, Eriksson B, Susu B, Christensson K and Diwan VK. Maternal and infant health problems after normal childbirth: a randomised controlled study in Zambia. J EpidComm Health 1998; 52: 385_391.

Plummer FA, Laga M, Brunham RC, Piot P, Ronald AR, Bhullar V, Mati JY, Ndinya-Achola JO, Cheang M, Nsanze H. Postpartum upper genital tract infections in Nairobi, Kenya: epidemiology, etiology, and risk factors. J Infect Dis 1987; 156: 92_98.

Buvé A, Weiss HA, Laga M, Van Dyck E, Musonda R, Zekeng L, Kahindo M, Anagonou S, Morison L, Robinson NJ and Hayes RJ (For the study group on heterogeneity of HIV epidemics in African cities). The epidemiology of gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection and syphilis in four African cities. AIDS 2001; 15(suppl 4): S79_S88.

Bentsi C, Klufio CA, Perine PL, Bell TA, Cles LD, Koester CM and Wang SP. Genital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorhhoea in Ghanaian women. Genitourin Med 1985; 61: 48_50.

Blankhart D, Muller O, Gresenguet G and Weis P. Sexually transmitted infections in young pregnant women in Bangui, Central African Republic. Int STD Aids 1999; 10: 609_614.

Sturm AW, Wilkinson D, Ndovela N, Bowen S and Connolly C. Pregnant women as a reservoir of undetected sexually transmitted diseases in rural South Africa: implications for disease control. Am J Public Health 1998; 88: 1243_1245

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.