pregnancy - The African Mirror

Sep

2021

Cardi B and offset welcome baby no. 2!

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER CARDI B has given birth to her second child, and Offset’s fifth. The hip-hop couple announced on Instagram that they had become parents to a son, making Cardi’s first child Kulture, a big sister. Simply captioned as “9/4/21," Cardi B is seen sitting in a hospital bed cradling her baby boy , wrapped in a blue blanket and wearing a blue knit hat, with husband Offset dressed in blue seated next to her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib) "We are so overjoyed to finally meet our son," the couple wrote…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Why Nigeria’s weak health system affects women and girls the most

HEALTH

NIGERIA’S healthcare service delivery is very poor. It ranks among the worst globally in terms of access and quality. In 2018 it was ranked 142 out of 195 countries by the general medical journal, the Lancet. The World Bank ranks it 42 on a scale of 100 in its universal coverage index, which indicates the availability of essential healthcare services in the participating countries. AKANNI IBUKUN AKINYEMI, Professor, Obafemi Awolowo University Some of the reasons for the sub-optimal healthcare delivery are linked to the country’s rapid population growth from 122.2 million in 2000 to 211.4 million. Other factors include poor…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Cardi B reveals pregnancy no.2

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER RAPPERS Cardi B and Offset are expecting again. Cardi B made the announcement during her featured performance with her husband and his group Migos’ on stage at the Black Entertainment Awards (BET). The rapper wore a black jeweled jumpsuit with the crystals designed to surround her swollen belly as the rapper performed. Cardi B at the 2020 BET Awards. Picture: Twitter The announcement during a live show makes it the second time that Cardi has announced her pregnancy to the world. While expecting the couple’s first child, Kulture, Cardi made the announcement while performing on US comedy…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

The role of bias in how women are treated during childbirth: a Kenyan case study

HEALTH

GLOBAL maternal mortality is unacceptably high. Around 810 women die every day from preventable causes related to childbirth and childbirth. PATIENCE AFULANI, Assistant Professor, University of California, San Francisco A number of factors drive maternal mortality. In developing countries it is often due to women not having access to basic health-care during pregnancy and when they give birth. Another contributory factor is the way in which women are treated when they seek care. Read more: What drives abuse of women in childbirth? We asked those providing the care Studies in poor countries have highlighted disparities in respectful and responsive care…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

How to get Malawian men more involved in antenatal care – and why it matters

HEALTH

ALINANE LINDA NYONDO-MIPANDO, Lecturer in Health Systems and Policy, University of Malawi ADAMSON S. MUULA, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Malawi WHEN men are excluded from antenatal (prenatal) care, or only participate in a limited way, it’s a lost opportunity for the whole family. This exclusion is seen more in patriarchal societies. Prenatal care services are traditionally designed to serve women. But male involvement provides an opportunity for their increased contributions both within the health system and at home. For example, getting fathers involved in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is critical for the uptake…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Mental health for pregnant women and new mothers: why extra care is needed

HEALTH

ABEL FEKADU DADI, PhD research fellow (Epidemiology), Flinders University The experience of pregnancy and childbirth has been conventionally described as a happy and joyful period of time. On the other hand, the childbearing age for females is a risky time to develop depression. This is due to a range of hormonal and other changes women go through during pregnancy and childbirth. There’s much more awareness about depression today than there was two decades ago. In 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported depression as a leading mental health issue. Recent global evidence has shown a substantial burden of perinatal depression…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

How Tanzania’s spousal escort policy frustrates antenatal health care

HEALTH

STEPHEN MALUKA, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam GOOD care during pregnancy is important for the health of mothers and the development of unborn babies. Antenatal care contributes to a woman’s overall good health as well as linking her and her family to the health system, and increasing her chances of using a skilled attendant at birth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) puts great store on care during pregnancy because, by its own estimates, 25% of maternal deaths occur during pregnancy. But antenatal care isn’t the norm for millions of women across Africa. In Tanzania,…