Malawi 2015-16

• Mothers with more than a secondary education (73%) are more likely than women with no education
(37%) to have a timely postnatal health check.
• Women from the wealthiest households (48%) are more likely to receive timely postnatal care as
compared with women from the bottom two quintiles (39% each).
Type of Provider
The skills of the provider determine the provider’s ability to diagnose problems and recommend
appropriate treatment or referral. Ten percent of women received a postnatal check from a doctor, clinical
officer, or medical assistant. Thirty-one percent received a postnatal check from a nurse or midwife. Only a
combined 1% of women received a check from a patient attendant, health surveillance attendant, or
traditional birth attendant (Table 9.10).
9.5.2 Postnatal Health Checks for Newborns
The first 48 hours of life is a critical phase in the lives of newborn babies and a period in which many
neonatal deaths occur. Lack of postnatal health checks during this period can delay the identification of
newborn complications and the initiation of appropriate care and treatment.
In Malawi, 60% of newborns had a postnatal check within the first 2 days after birth (Table 9.11). Thirtysix
percent of newborns do not receive any postnatal health check.
Patterns by background characteristics
• Newborns delivered in a health facility were much more likely to receive a postnatal health check
within 2 days of birth than those delivered elsewhere (63% versus 15%).
• Newborns born to women who reside in urban areas (71%) are more likely to receive a postnatal check
within the first 2 days after birth compared with newborns born to women from rural areas (58%).
• There is a correlation between the mother’s level of education and a postnatal check in the first 2 days
after birth. Eighty-one percent of babies born to mothers with more than secondary education received
postnatal check within 2 days compared with 51% of babies born to mothers with no education.
Type of Provider and Content of Postnatal Care
Thirteen percent of newborns received a postnatal checkup from a doctor, clinical officer, or medical
assistant, while 45% received a postnatal check from a nurse or midwife (Table 9.12). For information on
the content of care provided, see Table 9.13.
A summary of pregnancy outcomes for all pregnancies in the 5 years before the survey is presented in
Table 9.14.
9.6 OBSTETRIC FISTULA
Obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that causes urinary or faecal
incontinence. Fistula typically results from problems during labour, surgical error, or trauma. In Malawi,
only 4 in 10 women age 15-49 (43%) have heard of obstetric fistula. One percent of women report that
they have experienced obstetric fistula; 78% of these women sought treatment (Table 9.15).
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