Decade of Progress: Trends in Key Maternal Health Performance Indicators in The Gambia
Abstract:
Maternal health
remains a pressing public health challenge in The Gambia, where maternal
mortality rates have historically exceeded 300 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Despite national efforts and global partnerships aligned with Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which aims to reduce maternal mortality to below 70
per 100,000 live births by 2030, significant disparities persist. This study, Decade
of Progress: Trends in Key Maternal Health Performance Indicators in The Gambia, evaluates the effectiveness
of community-based maternal health interventions implemented between 2010 and
2020. Employing a retrospective quasi-experimental design and secondary data
analysis, the study focuses on eight key regions—Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama,
Mansakonko, Kerewan, Kuntaur, Janjanbureh, and Basse—selected for their diverse
socioeconomic profiles and disparities in healthcare access. Quantitative data
were supplemented with qualitative insights from structured questionnaires and
hospital interviews. Findings reveal substantial improvements in maternal
health indicators. Health facility births increased across all ethnic groups.
Skilled birth attendance rose from 57% to 84%, traditional birth attendant
involvement declined sharply from 26.96% to 6.73%, reflecting a shift toward
professionalized care but postnatal care coverage improved. These trends
suggest that the deployment of community health workers and traditional birth
attendant training, have contributed to improved maternal health outcomes,
although disparities still persist. This study provides actionable insights for
policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers, emphasizing the need for
inclusive strategies and data-driven planning to reduce maternal mortality
further and enhance maternal care in The Gambia.
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