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Introduction The majority (99%) of the children who die during the first 4 weeks of life do so in the poorer parts of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In 2018, sub-Saharan Africa had a neonatal mortality rate of 28 deaths per 1000 live births. The purpose of the review was to explore and describe the trends of neonatal mortality within the two sub-Saharan countries. Methods We did a literature search in biomedical databases of data published, in English, between Jan 1, 1975, and November 30, 2019. The databases included Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PUBMED, OVID and Google scholar. The keywords used in the search: “Neonatal Survival”, “Sub-Sahara”, “Kenya” and “South Africa”. Results The search generated 2209 articles of which only 27 met the inclusion criteria. The present study qualitatively analysed data. Data were presented and organized under two thematic domains: 1) trends of national neonatal mortality rates in South Africa and Kenya and 2) causes of neonatal mortality. Conclusion The current review results noted that in 2018, the neonatal mortality rate for Kenya was 19.6 deaths per 1000 live births. The neonatal mortality rate has fallen gradually from 35.4 deaths per 1000 live births in 1975. On the other hand, South Africa has had its neonatal mortality rate fall from 27.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 1975 to 10.7 deaths per 1000 live births in 2018. Most neonatal deaths resulted in preterm birth complications followed by intrapartum-related events for the two countries. Within the sub-Saharan region, disparities exist as neonates born in South Africa are more likely to survive during the neonatal period compared to Kenya.

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BackgroundSouth Africa’s maternal mortality ratio has increased from 150/100 000 in 1990 to 269/100 000 live births in 2015 against the Millennium Development Goals 5 (MDG5) target of 38/100 000, indicating slow progress in improving maternal health. The neonatal mortality rate was 14/1000 live births against the MDG4 target of 7/1000. The purpose of the article was to outline the socio-economic factors that determine maternal and neonatal mortality in South African communities.ObjectivesTo identify and describe the social determinants of maternal and neonatal mortality in South Africa.MethodA qualitative study using audio-taped individual interviews was conducted. The interviews included 10 pregnant women who were purposefully recruited from the antenatal clinic attendees in a public hospital. The interviews were conducted in isiZulu and later translated into English by the researcher who is fluent in both. Data were analysed using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health framework.ResultsFindings revealed that poverty was an underlying factor to the vulnerability to illness and death of the mothers and their neonates. Other determinants were found to be the nutritional inadequacies, neglect and abuse by male partners, HIV or AIDS, inattention to reproductive health and violation of reproductive rights, and powerlessness of women and health system issues such as poor quality and incompetent health care.ConclusionIt is apparent that poverty plays a major role in determining the health of mothers and neonates. This requires more coordinated multi-sectorial interventions to address both the social determinants and direct causes of maternal and neonatal deaths.

Objective The study aims to assess quality of obstetric and newborn care including respectfulness of the maternity care. Design The study used explanatory sequential mixed methods design . Setting This study was conducted in 50 health centres in Addis Ababa city administration January 25 to April 31, 2021. Methods During the quantitative phase 500 women in postpartum period were interviewed using structured questionnaire. In the second phase in-depth interview was conducted with 20 midwives and 13 health centre managers. The quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The qualitative data was analysed using Colaizzi’s seven step process. Results Only 24.6% of women had respectful maternity care (RMC). Only 46% of women had effective communication during child birth. Only 9.6% of women had emotional support during child birth. Majority of women were encouraged to mobilize, take food and be on labor position of their choice. However, only 22.4 and 18.8% of women respectively had a companion of choice and any pharmacologic pain relief during child birth. One in seven women (15%) had one form of disrespect and abuse during child birth. Conclusion Ensuring respectful maternity care needs strong policy direction to health facilities, public education on their right to respectful maternity care, training of care givers and monitoring care through engagement of frontline staff and clients.