"To give life is a journey through the unknown": an ethnographic account of childbirth experiences and practices in Southern Benin.

In Benin maternal mortality remains high at 397 deaths per 100,000 live births, despite 80% of births being attended by skilled birth attendants in health facilities. To identify childbirth practices that potentially contribute to this trend, an ethnographic study was conducted on the use of biomedical and alternative health services along the continuum of maternal care in Allada, Benin. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews ( = 83), informal interviews ( = 86), observations ( = 32) and group discussions ( = 3).

Where and why do we lose women from the continuum of care in maternal health? A mixed-methods study in Southern Benin.

Objective: Continuum of care (CoC) in maternal health is built on evidence suggesting that the integration of effective interventions across pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period leads to better perinatal health outcomes. We explored gaps along the CoC in maternal health in Benin.

Methods: A mixed-methods study triangulating results from a qualitative study in southern Benin with a quantitative analysis of Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data on the use of services along the CoC was conducted.

Modern contraceptive use among adolescent girls and young women in Benin: a mixed-methods study.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the determinants of modern contraceptive method use among young women in Benin.

Design: A mixed-methods design.

Setting And Participants: We used the Benin 2017-2018 Demographic and Health Survey datasets for quantitative analysis.

'Rowing against the current': the policy process and effects of removing user fees for caesarean sections in Benin.

Background: In 2009, the Benin government introduced a user fee exemption policy for caesarean sections. We analyse this policy with regard to how the existing ideas and institutions related to user fees influenced key steps of the policy cycle and draw lessons that could inform the policy dialogue for universal health coverage in the West African region.

Methods: Following the policy stages model, we analyse the agenda setting, policy formulation and legitimation phase, and assess the implementation fidelity and policy results.

The costs of 'free': Experiences of facility-based childbirth after Benin's caesarean section exemption policy.

As one of many similar policies in the region, in 2009 Benin launched a free c-section policy in publicly funded hospitals intended to decrease the barriers to facility delivery and the heavy financial burdens on women and their families. We conducted a qualitative study for eight months between 2012 and 2014 to understand women's experiences of care in maternity wards. We carried out semi-structured interviews with 30 women who had delivered via c-section at five hospitals.