A Systematic Literature Review on Maternal Healthcare Services in Rural Districts in South Africa: Infrastructure, Staffing, and Quality Service Delivery, Utilizing VOSviewer for Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

It is evident that maternal healthcare services are in high demand in the rural districts of South Africa. This can be attributed to factors such as the lack of adequate infrastructures, a shortage in workforce capacity, and poor delivery of the services. In this context, it is necessary to conduct a systematic review of existing literature on maternal healthcare services in such regions so as to establish how such challenges affect the delivery of care. As part of the research objectives, it seeks to explore available statistics on healthcare facilities, the status of trained staff, and the level of maternal care services by using bibliometric analysis through VOSviewer in order to identify key patterns and missing links.

Scopus stated that it was the only publication that offered primary maternal health services that forms the backbone for the systematic literature review that was performed on the maternal health services. Bibliometric investigation using VOSviewer was integrally linked to the conceptual structure through the elements of infrastructure, health workers, and the quality of care offered in rural areas. In addition, the network and density visualizations directed the research into more productive areas while clarifying the less developed areas of research.

It emerged from the results that there are quite large deficiencies in some critical aspects such as healthcare infrastructure and human resource which provide the nursing care, this further, affects the level of maternal care that is provided. In conclusion, the research attempts to indicate that there has been some level of success, but additional effort towards conducting studies to determine how best the gaps in provision of these studies are focused at in resource deficient rural areas. This review provides a basis for future policy improvements and the prioritization of maternal healthcare services in rural South Africa.