This paper examines the typology of childbirth of the Siendji Brong in Côte d'Ivoire, and highlights the associated psychosocial perceptions and medical practices that endanger maternal health. The research was qualitative, with an ethnographic scope. Data was collected from two focus groups, women over 50 and multiparas respectively, in order to identify the community's physiological criteria for classifying childbirth. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with traditional midwives and parturients' caregivers regarding psychosocial and medical aspects of childbirth. Through content analysis, informants' representations regarding childbirth and the mechanisms underlying the risks to maternal health were brought out. The community distinguished primarily between kou gariogo, "childbirth with complications", and kou tchrêssêguê, "uncomplicated childbirth". Risks to maternal health stemmed from ignorance of warning signs and the practice of home birth, both perpetuated by local obstetrical culture. Communication and education are needed for social change that would reduce reproductive health risks in the community.
Infant feeding is a real child health problem in Côte d'Ivoire. This situation led to the initiation of a participatory community health approach in the rural area of Koro. It is a qualitative type of research in which Koro community was the target group. The research is categorized into three phases: social mobilization, community diagnosis, and the restitution workshop. With this, the priority problems of infant feeding in the community were identified as well as their solutions, and then an action plan was proposed for healthy infant feeding. The priority problems include the following: the rejection of colostrum, non-observance of exclusive breastfeeding, the inappropriate introduction of complementary foods, the burden of fieldwork demand on mothers, and early stopping of breastfeeding. From the responses obtained, the priority solutions considered include: educating the mothers of the community to change their perception about colostrum, and supporting mothers in the process of dietary diversification and stopping breastfeeding. To this end, an implementation action plan based on a dynamic and community collaboration framework was established to improve infant feeding. It appears relevant as a health monitoring support for the rural community of Koro.
This study investigates why postpartum women cannot or will not receive postpartum consultations at the maternity ward in Sokoura, Côte d'Ivoire. It aims to present the sociocultural, economic, infrastructural and organisational factors limiting new mothers' access to postpartum care and to suggest ways to encourage them to seek out such care. A qualitative approach was adopted and data was collected from individual interviews with new mothers and midwives. The results have elucidated the factors hindering postpartum consultations at the maternity ward in Sokoura and the broader sociological context in which they need to be assessed. The relevant factors are deficient knowledge about the post-partum period, new mothers' professional obligations, their spouses' limited financial means, the distance of the maternity ward, unfavourable transport conditions, tensions between new mothers and midwives, and inadequate organisation and management of the postpartum consultation services at the maternity ward. These obstacles to postpartum care can be broadly categorised as insufficient education, scarce social support and unfavourable environmental and medical conditions. To remedy these issues, it is necessary to foster community action targeting new mothers and their spouses, to develop midwives' cross-cultural skills, notably their capacity for anthropological observation, and to involve public authorities in the changes.
Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is an issue of concern in the reduction of reproductive health morbidity in Côte d'Ivoire. This research aimed to describe the meaning of anaemia and analyze its explanatory factors from the perspective of pregnant women in a hospital setting in Ahougnansou in the city of Bouaké in the Centre-North of Côte d'Ivoire.Methods: This qualitative research was descriptive-interpretive. Individual interviews were conducted with twenty (20) participating pregnant women in the hospital environment of Ahougnansou. The data were analyzed using a content analysis supported by a thematic grid.Results: Perceptions have identified anaemia in pregnancy as a life-threatening reproductive morbidity for both mother and child. Its specific image has been associated with a lack of blood in the body, symptoms of fever, dizziness, fatigue, lack of appetite, pallor, thinness and an aetiology relating to food bans. In addition, the explanatory logics noted its link with irrational health behaviours such as irregular consultations, inaccessibility to edifying advice, lack of early detection, lack of use of daily oral iron and folic acid supplementation, lack of mobilization of financial resources and non-observance of a balanced diet. Conclusion: Examination of the social representation of anaemia in pregnancy leads to relevant insights into the irrational health behaviours of pregnant women. Searching for appropriate long-term solutions to this morbidity requires the immersion of midwives in the living environment of pregnant women and specific community health actions in populations in order to circumscribe the reproductive practices involved in resistance to nutritional recommendations in pregnancy.
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