Evaluation of a Safe Motherhood project in Ntcheu district, Malawi

Figures & data

Figure 1 Map of Africa showing Malawi.

Figure 2 Map of Malawi showing Ntcheu district.

Table 1 Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents (N=400)

Variable	Number of subjects	Percentage (%)
Age of respondents (years)
15–19	30	7.5
20–24	113	28.25
25–29	96	24
30–34	87	21.75
35–39	47	11.75
40–44	20	5
45–49	7	1.75
Marital status
Married	240	60
Divorced	56	14
Separated	24	6
Single	40	10
Widowed	40	10
Level of education
No education	164	41
Lower primary (standard 1–5)	98	24.5
Upper primary (standard 6–8)	58	14.5
Lower secondary (form 1–2)	40	10
Upper secondary (form 3–4)	40	10
Income per month (USD)
2.6–13	164	41
13.1–26	100	25
26.3–39	80	20
39.5–52	36	9
Above 52.6	20	5
Distance to the health facility
Less than 1 km	40	10
2 km–4 km	160	40
Greater than 5 km	200	50

Abbreviations: km, kilometer; USD, US dollars.

Table 2 Participants’ knowledge of different services provided at the antenatal clinic (N=400)

Antenatal care services	Number of subjects	Percentage (%)
Checking weight	301	75.3
Provision of anti-malarial drugs	227	56.8
Checking blood pressure	237	59.3
Checking level of blood Hb	231	57.8
HIV test	242	60.5
Provision of iron tablets	222	55.5
Abdominal palpation	224	56.0
Giving health information	131	32.8

Abbreviations: Hb, hemoglobin; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.

Figure 3 Knowledge of recommended time to start breastfeeding after delivery.

Note: The recommended time to start breastfeeding is 30 minutes after delivery.

Figure 4 Participants’ knowledge of the best time to return to the health facility for postnatal checkup.

Figure 5 Comparison of number of visits to the antenatal clinic before and after initiation of the project.

Note: Baseline data reflect visits before initiation of the Safe Motherhood project; evaluation data reflect visits after initiation of the project.

Figure 6 Reasons given by participants for not attending antenatal clinic.

Abbreviation: HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.

Figure 7 Gestation month at which respondents made first visit to the antenatal clinic.

Figure 8 Vaccination coverage in the project area and the whole district.

Abbreviations: BCG, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin tuberculosis vaccine; Penta, pentavalent vaccine.

Figure 9 Type of support provided by males.