Transport During Childbirth: A Death Trap for South African Mothers and Babies

This 4-page brief was produced to help support activists' knowledge and advocacy around safe transport for pregnant woman, as a way to decrease child and maternal mortality rates. The brief explains that formative research conducted by the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication showed that a lack of reliable and efficient transport during labour complications or for delivery contributes to high maternal mortality rates. "Progress to reducing maternal mortality in South Africa is hindered by distance and access to health care services, including lack of, or poor transport from home to health care facilities. To increase timely access to health care services, the Soul City Institute recommends the development and approval of a transport plan for every pregnant woman who visits a health facility for antenatal care. This plan should be supported and overseen by community based structures such as the clinic committee or community based monitors (CBMs)."
The brief recommends both policies and local level actions, including practical steps around transport planning and engaging family and community stakeholders to ensure safe transport as needed. The advocacy brief is published as part of the Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality Through Strengthening Primary Health care (RMCH) Programme, funded by United Kingdom Aid. The RMCH programme "provides technical assistance to the South African National Department of Health (NDoH) and the Districts to improve the quality of, and access to, reproductive, maternal and child health services for women and children living in poorer, underserved areas in South Africa."