A UN refugee agency supported a review that aims to strengthen safe motherhood services for women refugees in northwest Tanzania. The review, which utilized the safe motherhood needs assessment of WHO as a guide, found that antenatal care as well as labor and delivery services were both available and accessible to women in the refugee camps. However, certain aspects of care could be improved by introducing a shorter schedule of visits. Limiting the use of unqualified care providers was also suggested since this practice increases the risk of disability and death. Furthermore, most of the camps tended to neglect postnatal care, and none of them had written guidelines for care of the mother and newborn. However, draft guidelines were formulated as the review progressed. Up-to-date technical information was also given to staff members to maintain quality care. This review of safe motherhood services demonstrates that it is possible to provide good quality services for children and mothers even in difficult situations. Such services do not require enormous financial resources, neither do they require sophisticated technology and highly specialized staff.

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Africa south of the Sahara refugee prenatal care maternal health population Migrants demography developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries Refugees health service Residence Characteristics health spatial distribution geography health services research Health Services Evaluation female Africa Refugee Camps health services Article organization and management Maternal-child Health Services Organization And Administration Programs program evaluation Women migration Eastern Africa health care quality Geographic Factors Tanzania Quality of Health Care Demographic Factors Maternal-Child Health Centers Refugees--women English Speaking Africa maternal welfare Emigration and Immigration health center Transients and Migrants Delivery of Health Care Maternal Health Services Africa, Eastern primary health care health care delivery