Role of Social Support Systems in Childbirth- Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Social support is vital in Sub-Saharan Africa, promoting maternal and child health. It involves mutual assistance, reducing anxiety during pregnancy, and improving obstetric outcomes. As a result, the goal of this study is to examine the functions of social support networks in childbirth, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, in order to gain a better understanding of how to enhance mother and child health in Africa. This review was conducted using an electronic search engine to search for articles that described social support systems and their roles and which were published up to August 2023. After screening, a total of 17 articles were included. The contents on social support systems were thematically categorized into four major systems: (1) Family, (2) Individual, (3) Professional and (4) Community. The sub-themes of social support systems observed from the reviewed papers were mostly the family of the mother (30.44%), the husband or the baby’s father (23.90%), Community members, neighbours, and friends of the mother (19.57%) and the family of the husband/baby’s father (10.88%). The least common type of social support sources was from Health workers (6.53%) and Traditional Birth Attendants (2.17%), "Self" (2.17%), Religious counsellors/members (2.17%) and colleagues at work (2.17%). The most stated social supports were Emotional Support (24.51%), Instrumental support (20.73%), financial support (16.97%), Informational Support (15.08%) and the least stated social supports were Material support (9.53%), Spiritual/Religious support (5.65%), Physical Support (5.65%) and Relationship Support (1.88%).

Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges in providing social support for mothers during childbirth. Family networks, spousal support, and various entities like friends, community, healthcare providers, and traditional birth attendants play crucial roles. However, professional health practitioners are underrepresented in social support contexts, highlighting potential gaps in healthcare training and patient relations.