Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34006307›Full record

ArticleReproductive health2021

The influence of social and cultural practices on maternal mortality: a qualitative study from South Punjab, Pakistan.

Sonia Omer, Rubeena Zakar, Muhammad Zakria Zakar, Florian Fischer

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Reproductive health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07225153 (Goat Milk-Derived Formula Alternatives vs. Undiluted Goat Milk in Babies Unable to Exclusively Breastfeed), which is not on this map. Cited by 49 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
49citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
23.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07225153 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Goat Milk-Derived Formula Alternatives vs. Undiluted Goat Milk in Babies Unable to Exclusively Breastfeed: Analysis of Growth Metrics and Biological Markers

TypeinterventionalSponsorAga Khan UniversityRan2025 to 2026Enrolled15ConditionsMalnutrition (Calorie), Infant Nutrition Disorder, Growth Flatering, Gut MicrobiomeArmsGMDFA, Undiluted Goat Milk
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

49 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 115 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Sonia OmerDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Rubeena ZakarDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Zakria ZakarUniversity of Okara, Okara, Pakistan.
Florian FischerInstitute of Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. florian.fischer1@charite.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4388-1245
University of the Punjab · PKUniversity of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten · DEUniversity of Okara · PK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA disproportionately high rate of maternal deaths is reported in developing and underdeveloped regions of the world. Much of this is associated with social and cultural factors, which form barriers to women utilizing appropriate maternal healthcare. A huge body of research is available on maternal mortality in developing countries. Nevertheless, there is a lack of literature on the socio-cultural factors leading to maternal mortality within the context of the Three Delays Model. The current study aims to explore socio-cultural factors leading to a delay in seeking care in maternal healthcare in South Punjab, Pakistan.

methodsWe used a qualitative method and performed three types of data collection with different target groups: (1) 60 key informant interviews with gynaecologists, (2) four focus group discussions with Lady Health Workers (LHWs), and (3) ten case studies among family members of deceased mothers. The study was conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan, situated in South Punjab, Pakistan. The data was analysed with the help of thematic analysis.

resultsThe study identified that delay in seeking care-and the potentially resulting maternal mortality-is more likely to occur in Pakistan due to certain social and cultural factors. Poor socioeconomic status, limited knowledge about maternal care, and financial constraints among rural people were the main barriers to seeking care. The low status of women and male domination keeps women less empowered. The preference for traditional birth attendants results in maternal deaths. In addition, early marriages and lack of family planning, which are deeply entrenched in cultural values, religion and traditions-e.g., the influence of traditional or spiritual healers-prevented young girls from obtaining maternal healthcare.

conclusionThe prevalence of high maternal mortality is deeply alarming in Pakistan. The uphill struggle to reduce deaths among pregnant women is firmly rooted in addressing certain socio-cultural practices, which create constraints for women seeking maternal care. The focus on poverty reduction and enhancing decision-making power is essential for supporting women's right to medical care.

Indexed as

Health Services AccessibilityChildCultural CharacteristicsFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMaternal Health ServicesMaternal MortalityPakistanPatient Acceptance of Health CarePregnancyPregnancy ComplicationsPrenatal CareQualitative ResearchCultureMaternal healthReproductive healthSexual and reproductive rightsTradition

Identifiers

PMID34006307
PMCPMC8130310
OpenAlexW3161292306

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.