Transforming City Care: Better Births in Africa

Even though maternal deaths dropped during the Millennium Development Goals, they're still too high. Shocks like COVID-19 could slow down progress. In Africa, many women get antenatal care and give birth in health facilities. But cities face unique challenges in ensuring fair, quality care for pregnant women. The UrbanBirth Collective is tackling this issue. They're analyzing three African cities: Grand Conakry, Grand Nokoué, and Lubumbashi. Their goal is to see how urban healthcare systems and living environments can be improved. They're focusing on labor, childbirth, and the early postnatal period, where most problems happen.By studying these cities, they hope to create a model that can be used elsewhere. Future cities need plans to provide fair care for mothers and newborns. To achieve this, they'll work with local leaders, healthcare workers, and policymakers. Their ultimate aim is to help cities reach zero preventable maternal deaths.