MamaYe Facts and Figures on the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey 2013

MamaYe has produced this Facts and Figures to summarise the key evidence from the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey 2013 Final Report. It highlights the results of this nationally representative survey, providing key indicators on maternal and newborn health.What does the DHS 2013 tell us about maternal and newborn health in Sierra Leone?The most significant change suggested by the 2013 results is the doubling in use of health facilities for childbirth. This is likely to reflect, in part, the introduction of free health care.Maternal mortality  and child mortality, both remain very high and there is little evidence of decline in neonatal mortality (corroborated by the WHO latest estimates)Ensuring services provide quality care needs to be the focus for Sierra Leone if we are to translate increased utilisation into better outcomes over the longer term. These preliminary figures indicate Sierra Leone still has a long way to go. Family planning is too low. HIV risk behaviours have increased. Malaria insecticide treated nets are increasingly being used by pregnant women, but nearly half reported not using them. There has been little if no change in prevalence of anaemia. Nearly 100% of women, however, access at least one antenatal care appointment. The increase in service uptake indicated by these results is an opportunity not to be missed.Please download the facthsheet here and share it.Click here to read the full report and here to find visuals about the latest DHS figures. Evidence for Action. (2014). MamaYe Facts and Figures on the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey 2013. London: Evidence for Action.