The community perinatal health care system of urban Cape Town, South Africa--I. Characteristics of mothers and birth outcomes.
Greater Cape Town has developed a geographical network of perinatal health care services for low-income mothers using community-based clinics with hospital referrals. This study analyzes 25,409 births recorded in 162 different urban residential areas during 1987. The data apply to two populations--black and mixed. Information on the mother, such as height, weight, education, parity, and prenatal visits is indicated by suburb, as well as birth outcomes such as gestational age, birthweight, and method of obstetrical delivery. Comparisons are drawn between black and mixed populations and among suburbs. High utilization rates and successful maternity and infant outcomes suggest that the outreach clinics of Cape Town could provide a model for urban agglomerations in other African countries.
Rip
M R
MR
Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
Hunter
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate / Q000208:ethnology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014504:Urban Health