A review of evidence on barriers to and facilitators of the utilization of reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services among pastoralist communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background: The coverage and uptake of reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services among pastoralist communities in the developing world is low. However, there is a paucity of information on the barriers to and facilitators of the uptake of these services among pastoralists in developing countries.

Objective: The aim of this review aim to assess the available evidence on the barriers to and facilitators of the uptake of reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health services among pastoralist communities in Sub-Saharan African.

Methods: A systematic electronic literature search from 2001 to 2016 was undertaken using the online databases of PubMed, Google Scholar and Google Advanced Search using key terms. Initial screening was done by the ‘preview, question, read and summarize’ system using key screening terms. A quality assessment of individual studies was carried out. A total of 21 papers were reviewed, focusing on reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health services of pastoralist communities in Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya.

Conversely, male involvement, the use of existing community structures, mobile clinics and the ‘One Health’ approach were shown to be facilitators of the uptake of reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services among the pastoralist communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Conclusion: To improve the use of reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services in pastoralist settings, it is necessary to promote female empowerment and male involvement; make optimal use of existing community structures; provide culturally acceptable and context-specific quality of care; and institutionalize the ‘One Health’ approach.  [Ethiop. J. Health Dev.  2018;32(Special Issue):43-49]

Keywords:  Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Review of evidence,Sub-Saharan Africa