Table 4

Patterns of coverage and content across the maternal continuum of care

CityPop (mil)ANC coverage and contentChildbirth coverage and contentPNC coverageContinuum of careAdditional notes across continuum of care, especially on level and sector of care
Bujumbura1Low coverage of ANC4 visits (highest relative drop-off between ANC1 to ANC4), low content of careHigh coverage, inconsistent contentMedium level of PNC, medium LOS24, high LOS72 (one of largest differences between LOS vaginal vs caesarean section)High public hospital use (childbirth)
Lilongwe1.1Low coverage of ANC4 +visits (high drop-off between ANC1 to ANC4), lowest content of careHigh coverage, medium contentLow PNC, both LOS24 and LOS72 above average High public hospital use
Ndjamena1.2Lowest ANC1, low ANC4, low content of careLow coverage, low contentLow PNC, low LOS24, medium LOS72Low
Monrovia1.2High coverage of ANC4 and high content of careLow coverage, low contentMedium to high PNC, high LOS24, high LOS72High hospital use, low CS rate
Freetown1.5High coverage of ANC4, high content of careMedium coverage, medium contenthighest PNC, high LOS24, low LOS72HighHigh public hospital use (ANC)
Cotonou1.5High coverage of ANC4, medium content of careHigh coverage, high contentHigh PNC, medium LOS24 and LOS72HighMix of sectors (ANC—public, childbirth private)
Lomé1.7Medium coverage of ANC4, medium content of careHigh coverage, medium contentAbove average both LOS
Conakry2.2Low coverage of ANC4 (high drop-off between ANC1 to ANC4), medium content of careLow coverage, low contentMedium PNC, very low LOS24, medium LOS72LowLow hospital use, low CS rate
Harare2.3Medium coverage and contentMedium coverage, inconsistent contentLow PNC, both LOS above averageHigh use of lower level public facilities in childbirth
Lusaka2.4Low coverage of ANC4 (high drop-off between ANC1 to ANC4), low content of careMedium coverage, high contentGood PNC with short LOSHigh public sector use in ANC and childbirth
Bamako2.8Medium coverage of ANC4, medium content of careHigh coverage, low contentHigh PNC, very low both LOSLowHigh use of public lower-level facilities (ANC and childbirth)
Dakar3.1High coverage of ANC4 and high content of careHigh coverage, inconsistent content (mostly medium)High PNC, medium level of both LOSHigh use of public lower-level facilities (ANC and childbirth)
Addis Ababa3.7High coverage of ANC4 and high content of careHigh coverage, medium contentLow PNC, low LOS
Kampala3.8Low coverage of ANC4 (high drop-off between ANC1 to ANC4), lowest content of careMedium coverage, high contentHigh PNC, medium LOSHigh private sector use (ANC and childbirth)
Accra4.5High coverage of ANC4 and high content of careHigh coverage, medium contentHigh PNC, medium to low LOSHighHigh use of public hospitals for ANC and childbirth care
Dar es Salaam5.3Medium coverage of ANC4, medium content of careMedium coverage, inconsistent contentLow PNC, below average both LOS
Nairobi5.9Medium coverage of ANC4 (high drop-off between ANC1 to ANC4), high content of careLow coverage, low contentLow PNC, medium/below average both LOSLargest drop between FBD and PNC48
Luanda7High coverage of ANC4 and high content of careLow coverage, high contentLow PNC, low LOS24, high LOS72
Kinshasa7.3Medium coverage of ANC4, high content of careHigh coverage, medium contentLow PNC, very high LOS24High private sector use (ANC and childbirth), while low CS rate
Johannesburg8.3Medium coverage of ANC4, high content of careHigh coverage, high contentLow PNC good LOS24, low LOS72
Lagos11.8High coverage of ANC4 (low drop off between ANC1 and ANC4), medium content of careLow coverage, low content (outlier low skin-to-skin)Medium PNC, good both LOSHigh private sector use (ANC and childbirth)
Cairo23High coverage of ANC4 (low drop off between ANC1 and ANC4), medium content of careMedium coverage, low content (outlier high CS)High PNC, outlier low LOSLowHigh private sector use (ANC and childbirth), very high CS rate
  • Green—best performing cities; orange—poorest performing cities.

  • ANC, antenatal care; CS, Caesarean section; FBD, facility-based delivery; LOS, length of stay; PNC, postnatal care.