Intrapartum Use of Oxytocin Injection: A Survey of Health Care Providers' Practice in Nigeria

Studies have demonstrated that more women who want to deliver babies have undergone inappropriate use of oxytocin for labor induction and augmentation at all levels of the health system, including primary health care facilities, in many parts of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the pattern of intrapartum administration of oxytocin among different cadres of health care providers in Nigeria.

Labor Augmentation with Oxytocin in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 

Despite worldwide use, reviews of oxytocin for labor augmentation include mainly studies from high-income countries. Besides having potential benefits on labor progress, oxytocin may be harmful to the fetus, with potentially higher risks in low-resource settings. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of practices, benefits, and risks of oxytocin for labor augmentation in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs).

Effectiveness of SafeCare Methodology in Improving Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care: Case Study from Saving Mothers Giving Lives (SMGL) 2.0 Project in Kaduna, Nigeria 

High quality of care is the bedrock of improved health outcomes. With a maternal mortality ratio of 512/100,000, Kaduna State's neonatal mortality rate of 63/1,000 and low coverage (27%) of deliveries assisted by a skilled provider are worse than the national average. These outcomes are exacerbated by poor quality of care due to unskilled providers, lack of equipment, and inadequate basic amenities, among other factors. Saving Mothers Giving Lives (SMGL) 2.0, led by Pathfinder International in collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation and Kaduna State Government, is implementing a quality improvement (QI) program using the SafeCare methodology to ensure the delivery of quality-secured care for mothers and their newborns.

Is Delivery Conducted in Private Health Facilities and through Caesarean Section Associated with Higher Neonatal Mortality? Evidence from North Indian States 

In India, institutional delivery increased from 42% in 2005–2006 to 90% in 2019–2021. This had a huge impact on reducing the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in the country, from 37 per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 22 in 2019. However, the progress is uneven. In states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (UP), which contribute about one-fourth of the country's population, NMR is more than 30 per 1,000 live births. Due to insufficient and abysmal public health systems in these states, private health sectors are increasingly providing obstetric care and conducting cesarean section deliveries, which may have negative impact on child health if quality of service is compromised. The present study, therefore, intends to examine the effect of private sector and cesarean section deliveries on the early neonatal mortality rate [ENMR] and NMR in India and these two states.