Maternal Mortality Media Reports from Anglophone West Africa

53 detailed articles from online newspapers and blogs across five countries were analyzed for content on maternal deaths. The dataset was created by researcher Kiran Roy through a systematic content analysis of digital media sources. Most articles were published in 2023, with 75% originating from Nigeria.

Use Cases

• Analyze the frequency of reported delay types (e.g., facility negligence, payment withholding) across different countries using coded categories.
• Assess journalistic standards by quantifying metrics like articles distinguishing fact from opinion (100%) or consulting independent experts (6%).
• Model the distribution of captured perspectives (e.g., spouse, government) mentioned in the 53 articles to understand narrative framing.
• Examine temporal trends in media coverage by analyzing the publication years of the included articles.

Strengths

• Analysis of 53 detailed articles provides a focused qualitative corpus.
• Clear geographic scope covering five Anglophone West African countries.
• Coding based on established frameworks like the three-delay model and journalistic standards.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 53 articles limits statistical generalizability.
• Strong geographic bias with 75% of articles from a single country (Nigeria).
• Limited temporal scope, with most data from a recent year (2023).

Provenance

Source

Content analysis of widely read online newspapers and popular blogging sites from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Collection Method

Systematic search, retrieval, and coding of relevant articles using quantitative and qualitative analysis frameworks.

Time Range

Primarily 2023, based on article publication dates.

Freshness

Last updated in April 2026, with most source articles from 2023.

Geography

Anglophone West Africa: The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.