Abstract

Patient safety initiatives aim to prevent infections, medical errors, and other adverse outcomes that could endanger patients or even cause their deaths. Deliberate efforts should be made to guarantee that care is provided in a safe environment wherever it is provided, as this helps rebuild public trust in the healthcare system. In sub-Saharan Africa, several barriers impede the achievement of patient safety in maternal and child health. Low healthcare financing is the main factor compromising patient safety for mother and child health in sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a more severe human resources for health (HRH) crisis, as well as severe shortages of essential medications and supplies and a deficient healthcare infrastructure. These issues make it more difficult to provide safe maternity, child health, surgical, and medical treatment, which increases the risk of adverse patient safety events. In this review, the challenges faced in providing safe maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa are examined.

Key words: Patient safety culture, Mother health, Child health, Sub-Saharan Africa, Risk management