A cross-sectional mixed study of the opportunity to improve maternal postpartum care in reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services in the Kaya health district of Burkina Faso.
OBJECTIVE
To propose a rationale to improve maternal postpartum care in reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional mixed study in the Kaya health district in Burkina Faso based on two data collection exercises conducted between December 2012 and May 2013. A household survey of 757 mothers in their first year after delivery was processed. It was complemented with a qualitative analysis using in-depth interviews with key informants, focus group discussions with mothers, and participant observation.


RESULTS
Postpartum services showed serious weaknesses. Overall, 52% (n=384) of mothers did not receive any maternal postpartum care; however among them, 47% (n= 349) received infant postpartum care.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest the integration of maternal postpartum care in RMNCH services as a key step to improving postpartum care. The intervention would require the overcoming of challenges related to the quality and cost of services, and to reaching the poor populations with low education and a high parity.
Biomedical and Public Health Department, Research Institute of Health Sciences, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, VID/ÖAW, WU), Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: belemsagadanielle@yahoo.fr.
Danielle
D
Yugbaré Belemsaga
Biomedical and Public Health Department, Research Institute of Health Sciences, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Aristide
A
Bado
Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, VID/ÖAW, WU), Vienna, Austria.
Anne
A
Goujon
International Centre for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Uro-Gynaecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Els
E
Duysburgh
International Centre for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Uro-Gynaecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Olivier
O
Degomme
Biomedical and Public Health Department, Research Institute of Health Sciences, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; African Institute of Public Health, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Seni
S
Kouanda
International Centre for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Uro-Gynaecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Marleen
M
Temmerman
D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
Burkina Faso; Infant health; Integration of services; Maternal health; Postpartum care; Reproductive health