Stakeholders' perceived achievements and challenges after the safe motherhood project in Northern Uganda

The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) and the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) implemented the Safe Motherhood project topromote mother-friendly society in northern Uganda from 2010 to 2016. The follow-up study has not been conducted and the information on achievements and challenges after the project were limited. To review the safe motherhood project in northern Uganda, the purpose of the study was to explore the stakeholders' perceived achievements and challenges after the project. Study design was qualitative content analysis using interview guides. After the approval of Institutional Review Board Clearance, the study was started (Approval Number: 2017-034). The subjects were informed about the ethical considerations (informed consent, participation on free will, confidentiality, and anonymity) in participating in the research, and they participated after signing the consent form. Six volunteers, 2 health center staff, and 2 former Uganda Red Cross staff were interviewed. Achievements were the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes changes, behavioural changes, linkage of all stakeholders, and positive influence on Safe Motherhood in community. Challenges of sociocultural barriers, attitudes toward women, accessibility and human resources, incentives and facilities, and sustainability of the project were derived from the interview. The study revealed that the project linked all stakeholders to achieve Safe Motherhood in community and all the developed registration systems were taken over. Long-term support is necessary for Safe Motherhood to take root

Male knowledge of birth preparedness in Ogun State, Nigeria: A rural/urban comparative cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to compare the knowledge of men concerning birth preparedness between rural and urban dwellers of Ogun State, Nigeria. Methodology: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 440 men each in rural and urban areas of Ogun State using a multistage sampling method to select participants. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit data about respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of birth preparedness. Knowledge was graded as good and poor knowledge. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 20 and presented as tables.Results: The mean ages of the urban and rural respondents were 36.58±6.760 and 37.61±9.788 respectively. The difference in the mean age of urban and rural residents was not statistically significant (t= -1.819, P=0.069). A higher proportion of urban respondents (53.4%) had a statistically significant good knowledge of birth preparedness compared to 30.2% of rural men (P<0.001). The association between age and knowledge of birth preparedness was statistically significant among rural respondents (P<0.001) unlike urban respondents (P=0.874). A statistically significant association was noted between education and knowledge (P<0.001) in the urban area as against the rural area (P=0.084).Conclusion: Knowledge of birth preparedness is better among male urban dwellers than their rural counterparts. Knowledge is statistically significantly associated with age in the rural area and with the level of education in the urban area. There is a need for an improved appropriate strategy that can raise knowledge of maternity care among rural men

CLEVER maternity care: a before-and-after study of women's experience of childbirth in Tshwane, South Africa

Background: Birthing care matters to women and some women experience mistreatment during childbirth. Aim: To determine the effect the 'CLEVER Maternity Care' package, a multi-faceted intervention to improve respectful, quality obstetric care. Setting: Ten midwife-led obstetric units in Tshwane health district, South Africa; five intervention and five control units. Methods: We conducted an anonymous baseline and end-line survey to measure the change in women's perceptions and experiences of childbirth care after the implementation of the CLEVER package. A convenience sample of women returning for a postnatal follow-up visit was obtained at baseline (n = 653) and after implementation of CLEVER (n = 679). Results: Six survey items were selected as proxies for respectful clinical care. There was no significant change in proportions of responses regarding one question, and with regard to patients receiving attention within 15 min of arrival, both the intervention and control group units showed a significant increase in positive responses (odds ratios of 8.4 and 6.1, respectively, and p values of 0.0001 and 0.0007). For the remaining four items (asking permission before doing an examination, positive communication, respectful treatment and overall satisfaction), only the intervention group showed a significant positive change (odds ratios ranging from 2.4 to 4.3; p ≤ 0.0018), with no significant change for the control group (odds ratios between 1.0 and 1.8; p ≥ 0.0736). Conclusion: After the implementation of CLEVER Maternity Care, women reported a more positive experience of childbirth. The CLEVER intervention is a potential strategy for addressing respectful, quality obstetric care that warrants further investigation

Reasons and experiences of home and hospital deliveries among women in Kano, North Western Nigeria

Background: In developing countries most women deliver at home for some reasons and such deliveries are not attended by a skilled birth attendant. In Nigeria 63% of births occurred at home. Objective: To determine the reasons and experiences of home and hospital deliveries among women in Kano, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study. The study employed a mixed method study. A total of 614 women were selected by multistage sampling technique and enrolled for the study. Focus group discussions with a group of women and husbands as well as key informant interviews with health care workers were conducted in the communities. Quantitative data was analysed using Minitab V17 software. Thematic content analysis was performed for the qualitative data. Data was gathered and analysed using triangulation methods. Results: The questionnaires response rate was of 96.7%. The mean age of respondents was 32.6 ± 6.5 years for home delivery group, and 28.1 ± 5.6 years for the hospital delivery group. Reasons for home deliveries were custom (24.5%), unfriendly attitude of health workers (17.5%), financial barriers (15.5%), and safety was the main reason for hospital delivery (56.7%). Determinants of choice of place of delivery were lower age at first pregnancy AOR=4.06 95%CI (1.633-10.076) and higher education AOR=2.70 95%CI (1.927-3.792) respectively. Conclusion: Mothers have different reasons and experiences with regard to choice of delivery location. Hospital deliveries should be encouraged

Factors that impact the timely treatment of obstetric fistulas in Malawi: The perspective of health care providers

Background: In sub-Saharan African countries, women face a high risk of obstetric fistulas. In Malawi, the prevalence rate is 1 per 1000 women. Studies suggest that several obstacles exist that prevent obstetric fistula patients from getting timely treatment for their condition. Aim: The aim of this article was to find out the factors that delay the timely treatment of obstetric fistula patients at Malawian hospitals. Setting: The study was conducted at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, a referral hospital, situated in Blantyre, Malawi, and the findings have been generalised to all the hospitals in Malawi. Methods: An exploratory case study, employing key interview questions, was used to provide insights into why there are delays in providing treatment and care for fistula patients. Purposive sampling technique was used to identify study respondents. Key informant interviews were conducted with 16 health care personnel at a hospital in Malawi. Results: The presence of numerous cases of complicated obstetric fistula cases overwhelms the health care system in Malawi. In addition, the severe shortage of staff, lack of obstetric fistula surgery training, low staff morale, inadequate infrastructure or equipment and water scarcity in the city of Blantyre contribute towards delayed treatment of fistulas at the hospitals. Conclusion: The presence of numerous cases of obstetric fistulas is overwhelming health services, and hence there is a need for devising and implementing health policies that will motivate Malawian health personnel to undertake obstetric fistula surgery and care

Scaling up maternal and child healthcare delivery among mission hospitals in Southeast Nigeria: an empirical application of data envelopment analysis for setting benchmarks and targets

The health system in many parts of Nigeria has been dysfunctional in several domains including financing, human resources, infrastructure, health management information system and hospital services. In an attempt to scale up Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services and ensure efficiency, Ebonyi State Government in Southeast Nigeria provided funding to mission hospitalsacross the State as a grant. This study used nonparametric method to assess the effect of this public financing on the efficiency of the mission hospitals. Operational cost and number of hospital beds were used as the input variables, while antenatal registrations, number of immunization doses and hospital deliveries were the output variables. The hospitals were disaggregated into 15 hospital-years. The mean overall technical efficiency of the mission hospitals was 84.05 22.45%. The mean pure technical efficiency was 95.56±6.9% and the scale efficiency was 88.05±22.20%. About 46.67% of all the hospital-years were technically and scale efficient. Although, 55.33% were generally inefficient, only 33.33% of hospital-years exhibited pure technical inefficiency. Low immunization coverage was the major cause of inefficiency. The study showed increased maternal health service output as result of public funding or intervention; however, the mission hospitals could have saved 16% of input resources if they had performed efficiently. It also shows that data envelopment analysis can be used in setting targets/benchmarks for relatively inefficient health facilities, and in monitoring impact of interventions on efficiency of hospitals over-time

Barriers and enablers to task shifting for caesarean sections in sub-saharan africa: a scoping review

Task shifting of Caesarean-sections to non-physician clinicians (NPCs) has raised concerns over NPCs' competences and rationale of using them in facilities where medical doctors (MDs) are scarce to provide mentorship. We conducted a scoping review to provide an update on NPCs' contribution to C-sections including barriers and enablers to task shifting. Using the PRISMA Flow Diagram, we identified 15 eligible articles from Google Scholar, PubMed and Africa Index Medicus using specific search terms and a pre-established inclusion criterion. All 15 studies characterised NPCs: their names, training, challenges and enablers to task shifting. NPCs performed 50%-94% C-sections. Outcomes of such C-sections were comparable to those performed by MDs. Enablers included supportive policies, pre-existing human resources for health shortage, well-resourced health facilities and supervision of NPCs. Weak health systems were major barriers. While NPCs make a significant contribution to accessing C-sections services, there is need to address challenges to fully realize benefits

Secondary school teachers' experiences related to learner teenage pregnancies and unexpected deliveries at school

Background: The incidence of learner teenage pregnancies can be reduced, provided that the major stakeholders, which include the Department of Education and the Department of Health, combine to address this issue. Despite the implementation of Life Orientation as a school subject, which focuses on sexual behaviour, health, decision-making, pregnancy risk, sexually transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS, the prevalence of learner teenage pregnancies at secondary schools remains alarmingly high.Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe teachers' experiences of learner teenage pregnancies in secondary schools in a province in South Africa.Setting: Secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal.Method: A qualitative approach with exploratory, descriptive and contextual strategies was used in this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers who had been selected through purposive sampling. Tesch's steps of systematic open coding were used to analyse all of the interviews.Results: The results that emerged during the data analysis indicate that firstly, teachers' experiences of having pregnant learners in their classrooms are negative as these learners are frequently absent from school, perform badly and drop out of school. Secondly, teachers' experiences related to unexpected deliveries are coloured by their lack of the necessary skills and competencies to deal and their resultant insecurity. Thirdly, the teachers feel that they do not receive the assistance they need to deal with teenage pregnancies as well as unexpected deliveries.Conclusions: Collaboration between and continuous support from the Department of Health and the Department of Education are crucial if teenage pregnancies at secondary schools are to be handled with greater success. Support from health care personnel should include guidance on contraception and health campaigns should target both the teachers and secondary school learners. Furthermore, coping strategies for the teachers should form part of the preservice curriculum of teachers

Tracking progress on the health status and service delivery outcomes for neonates and children in the Metro West geographic service area of the Cape Metropole, 2010 - 2015

Background. Monitoring the health status of populations of children is one of the building blocks of the health system. The provision of an indicator dashboard with disaggregated data that are collected over time can be used to gauge the performance of the health system, guide the allocation of resources and prioritise health interventions within districts.Objectives. To determine neonatal and child mortality, morbidity and health service outcomes over a 6-year period in the Metro West geographic service area (GSA) of the Cape Town metropole.Methods. A dashboard with key indicators was developed using existing data.Results. From 2010 to 2015, there was a decrease in the perinatal mortality rate from 31.7 to 24.8 per 1 000 deliveries, and the early neonatal and neonatal mortality rates from 7.8 and 8.6 to 7.0 and 8.2 per 1 000 live births, respectively. The main obstetric causes of early neonatal deaths were antepartum haemorrhage (22 - 24%) and unexplained intrauterine death (13 - 16%); the main neonatal causes were immaturity (17 - 34%), congenital abnormalities (23 - 29%) and hypoxia (23 - 26%). Under-five mortality decreased in 2013 from 25 to 22 per 1 000 live births, with the main causes being neonatal conditions (32%), pneumonia (25%), congenital abnormalities (9%), injuries (8%) and diarrhoea (8%). Fifty percent of child deaths were out of hospital, with pneumonia and diarrhoea accounting for more than half of these. There was an improvement in health service coverage rates in 2015: immunisation <1 year old (99%); measles second dose (85%), pneumococcal third dose (100%) and rotavirus second dose (100%); maternal antiretroviral coverage (90%); HIV testing in mothers (93%); HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction testing in babies (97%); and a decrease in HIV transmission (2%). Exclusive breastfeeding coverage rates at 14 weeks, and vitamin A supplementation at 12 - 59 months, were only 30% and 44%,respectively, across the GSA.Conclusion. There was a decrease in perinatal, early neonatal, infant and under-five mortality in Metro West over the 6 years. Further reductions in under-five mortality will require focusing on interventions to reduce neonatal and out-of-hospital deaths across the service delivery platform. Home visits to at-risk mothers and infants by community health workers could prevent out-of-hospital deaths and improve exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A coverage. This will require increasing the number of community health workers and broadening their scope of practice

Institutional delivery service utilization and its associated factors among women who gave birth during the past one year in Mizan Aman City Administration, Bench Maji Zone, South West Ethiopia, 2017

Background: Maternal mortality due to unsafe abortion, prolonged labour, eclampsia and other reasons has been the major problem across the globe especially in developing countries. This is because; most of those deliveries occur outside health care facilities and assisted with nonprofessionals. Aim: To assess magnitude and factors associated with institutional delivery practice and its determinants among mothers who gave birth during the past one year in Mizan Aman Town, Bench Maji zone, South West Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: Community based cross sectional study was conducted among mothers who gave birth during the past one year from April 10 to May 10, 2017. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Crude and adjusted Odds ratios were computed for selected variables and P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistical significant. Results: Only 54.2% of mothers gave birth at health facilities. Husbands educational level, decision about the cost related to health care/for referral or reaching health facility and place of antenatal care follow up were associated with institutional delivery service utilization. Conclusion: In contrast to studies conducted in other parts of the country and the Ethiopia Demographic health survey result of 2016, the number of women who had given birth at health care facilities in Mizan Aman city administration was higher. However, it was below the health sector transformation plan of the country that has a plan to raise institutional delivery supported by health personnel to 95%. Thus increasing awareness of mothers and their partners about the benefits of institutional delivery services are recommended

Midwives' knowledge and use of partographs at Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan

Background:Evidence shows that good knowledge of partographs and proper application of this knowledge results in a remarkable reduction in prolonged and obstructed labour and reduces maternal mortality. Obstructed labour can be prevented by a simple and cost-effective health intervention tool, the partograph. A partograph is a graphical record of the progress of labour and salient conditions of the mother and foetus plotted against time in hours. This provides an opportunity for early identification of deviation from normal progress. Early detection of prolonged labour greatly contributes to prevention of obstructed labour and related complications.Objective:To assess midwives' knowledge and use of partographs in the maternity ward of Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan.Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess utilisation of partographs among healthcare providers in Juba Teaching Hospital. All providers working at the time of the study were included. An interviewer administered questionnaire prepared in English was used to assess socio-demographic and other related variables of respondents as well as knowledge and practice. Ethical procedures were followed at every step. Results:Only 20% of the 30 respondents were registered midwives, 67% knew the components -of a partograph, and 93% could differentiate between normal and abnormal labour with the use of a partograph. The factors affecting the use of partographs included; shortage of partographs in the ward, lack of protocols on partograph use, understanding semantics of the English language, absence of refresher training, late reporting of mothers to the ward, and a shortage of staff. Conclusions: Despite good knowledge of the partograph, about half of the providers do not use them. We recommend training and recruitment of more qualified midwives, a continuous supply of partographs to improve use of partographs continuous supportive supervision, mentoring of staff and motivation schemes

Résultats préliminaires de la population bénéficiaire de la stratégie PTME, option B+, à Lubumbashi de 2013 à 2014

Objectif : Déterminer le taux de Transmission Mère-Enfant du VIH (TME), le suivi post-natal ainsi que les facteurs de risque de perdus de vue sous l'option B+.Patientes et méthodes :Etude prospective des accouchées séropositives au VIH suivies du 1er janvier 2013 au 31 décembre 2014 à l'HGR de la commune Kenya et du 1er janvier 2014 au 31 décembre 2014 à la maternité de l'Hôpital Général de Référence (HGR) de Kampemba. Ont été étudiés : les caractéristiques socio-démographiques des accouchées,les données cliniques, obstétricales et celles propres à la PTME, la TME, le suivi post-natal et facteurs de risque. L'analyse des données a été faite à l'aide du logiciel Epi info 7.0 ; les fréquences exprimées en pourcentage, le test de Fisher utilisé et le seuil significatif fixé à p < 0,05.Résultats : L'âge des accouchées était de 21 à 43 ans (âge moyen : 31 ans). Presque toutes nos patientes étaient en union conjugale, et au moins 76% d'entre elles avaient atteint 6 ans d'études primaires. Quatre-vingt-trois pour cent des femmes n'avaient aucune activité professionnelle spécifique et 72% se confessaient dans les églises de réveil. La parité variait entre 0 et 12 avec une moyenne de 4 ± 2 ; 61 des 86 gestantes (71%) étaient des multipares (parité > 2). L'âge gestationnel moyen était de 38,8 ± 1,0 SA. La quasi-totalité des accouchements (88 : 98,88%) se sont déroulés par voie naturelle. Des 90 naissances vivantes, 47 nouveau-nés étaient de sexe masculin (52,22%). Le poids de naissance variait entre 1400 et 4200 grammes (moyenne : 3174,57 ± 596,9 grammes). Vingt-huit accouchées étaient connues séropositives avant la grossesse (33,33%), pour 52 femmes, la découverte avait été enregistrée au cours de la grossesse (61,90%) et pour 5 autres lors de l'accouchement (5,95%). Parmi les accouchées, 27 (32,14%) étaient sous TAR à vie avant la grossesse, 53 (63,09%) ont été mises sous thérapie pendant la grossesse et 4 (4,76%) ont démarré la trithérapie à vie lors de l'accouchement. Le taux de CD4 variait entre 3 et 1109/mm3 avec un taux moyen de 429,88 ± 198/mm3. Vingt-six accouchées sur 76 (34,20%) avaient un taux de CD4 < 350/mm3. Soixante-huit nouveau-nés avaient bénéficié de l'allaitement maternel exclusif (83,95%) et 97,62% d'entre eux avaient reçu la névirapine pendant 6 semaines. Considéré à 9 mois et à 12 mois, par rapport aux nourrissons dépistés pour lesquels le statut immunologique a été précisé, le taux de TME serait de 4 nourrissons pour 55 (7,27%) et 4 sur 27 (14,81%) respectivement. Le moment de mise sous TAR maternel ne semble pas avoir influé sur la dynamique de rétention ou non des couples mère-enfant durant les 12 mois de suivi post-natal. Au bout de 12 mois du suivi post-natal, seuls 40 (47,62%) des 84 couples mère-enfant attendus avaient été retrouvés mais l'analyse factorielle en rapport avec les données socio-démographiques n'avait pas identifié formellement les facteurs pouvant expliquer la faible rétention observée dans cette étude à part l'éloignement vis-à-vis du site.Conclusion : Les défis à surmonter notamment dans le suivi post-natal sont le délai d'attente trop long des résultats PCR-DNA ainsi que le nombre élevé des perdues de vue

Étude anthropométrique et pelvimétrique externe chez les nullipares de Lubumbashi: facteurs de risque et score prédictif de la dystocie mécanique

Introduction: la morbi-mortalité maternelle et périnatale reste élevée dans la majeure partie de l'Afrique subsaharienne par rapport au reste du monde. Dépister, avant le travail, les femmes à risque de dystocies mécaniques et les référer à un hôpital mieux équipé pour accouchement contribue à la stratégie visant à réduire la morbi-mortalité. L'objectif de cette étude est de développer un score prédictif de la dystocie mécanique lors de l'accouchement chez les nullipares congolaises. Méthodes: il s'agit d'une étude transversale analytique sur les nullipares avec des grossesses uniques dans 7 maternités de la ville de Lubumbashi (RDC). La taille, le poids et les mensurations pelvimétriques externes maternelles ont été récoltés et analysés. Une analyse univariée et une analyse multivariée étaient réalisées. La discrimination du score était évaluée à l'aide de la courbe ROC.Résultats: nous avons recruté 535 nullipares au cours de la période d'étude, dont 126 (23,55%) avaient accouché pacésarienne indiquée pour dystocie mécanique. Après modélisation logistique, trois critères sont ressortis comme facteurs prédictifs de dystocie mécanique: la taille maternelle <150cm (ORajusté=2,96 [1,49-5,87]), le diamètre bi-ischiatique <8cm (ORajusté=15,96 [3,46-73,56]) et le diamètre prépubien de Trillat <11cm (ORajusté=2,34 [1,36-4,01]). L'aire sous la courbe ROC du score est de 0,6549 avec une sensibilité de 23,81%, une spécificité de 97,80% et une valeur prédictive positive de 76,92%.Conclusion: il a été observé que les valeurs de 10ème percentile des trois mesures anthropométriques maternelles étaient prédictives de la dystocie mécanique. Lorsqu'elles étaient utilisées ensemble, ces trois valeurs permettaient de développer un score de dépistage à faible coût pour une utilisation dans les milieux à faible revenu

Multi-stakeholder perspectives on access, availability and utilization of emergency obstetric care services in Lagos, Nigeria: A mixed-methods study

Globally, Nigeria is the second most unsafe country to be pregnant, with Lagos, its economic nerve center having disproportionately higher maternal deaths than the national average. Emergency obstetric care (EmOC) is effective in reducing pregnancy related morbidities and mortalities. This mixed-methods study quantitatively assessed women's satisfaction with EmOC received and qualitatively engaged multiple key stakeholders to better understand issues around EmOC access, availability and utilization in Lagos. Qualitative interviews revealed that regarding access, while government opined that EmOC facilities have been strategically built across Lagos, women flagged issues with difficulty in access, compounded by perceived high EmOC cost. For availability, though health workers were judged competent, they appeared insufficient, overworked and felt poorly remunerated. Infrastructure was considered inadequate and paucity of blood and blood products remained commonplace. Although pregnant women positively rated the clinical aspects of care, as confirmed by the survey, satisfaction gaps remained in the areas of service delivery, care organization and responsiveness. These areas of discordance offer insight to opportunities for improvements, which would ensure that every woman can access and use quality EmOC that is sufficiently available

Utilization of the partogram among nurses and midwives in selected health facilities in the Eastern Province of Rwanda

Background: Maternal mortality continues to be a global burden, with more than 200 million women becoming pregnant each year and a large number dying as a result of complications of pregnancy or childbirth. The World Health Organisation has recommended use of the partogram to monitor labour and delivery in order to improve healthcare and reduce maternal and foetal mortality rates.Objective: This study described factors affecting utilisation of the partogram among nurses and midwives in selected health facilities of Rwanda.Method: A descriptive quantitative and cross-sectional research design was used. The population comprised 131 nurses and midwives providing obstetric care in 15 health institutions (1 hospital and 14 health centres). Data collection was through a self-administered questionnaire, and a pre-test of the data collection instrument was carried out to enhance validity and reliability. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 21) was used to capture and analyse data. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of the Western Cape (Republic of South Africa) and from the Institutional Review Board of Kigali Health Institute (Rwanda). Patricia Benner's model of nursing practice was used to guide the study.Results: It was found that 36.6% of nurses and midwives did not receive any in-service training on how to manage women in labour. Despite fair knowledge of the partogram among nurses and midwives in this study, only 41.22% reported having used the partogram properly, while 58.78% reported not having done so.Conclusion: Nurses' and midwives' years of professional experience and training in managing pregnant women in labour were found to be predictors of the likelihood of proper use of the partogram. In-service training of obstetric caregivers in the Eastern Province of Rwanda is recommended to improve use of the partogram while managing women in labour

A Single Large dose of tranexamic acid before vaginal delivery: Is it beneficial?

Background: many factors are attributed in the management of postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery.Objective: to assess the efficacy and safety of a single large dose of intravenous tranexamic acid in reducing postpartum blood loss after vaginal delivery.Subjects and Methods: this is a multicentric prospective randomized double blind placebo controlled trial.240 pregnant women were randomized to receive either 60 mg/kg of TA (n=120) or placebo (n=120) intravenously in the second stage of labour. Postpartum blood loss was collected and measured accurately from placental delivery to 2 hours postpartum and adverse effects of were observed.Results: the mean estimated postpartum blood loss was significantly lower in women treated with tranexamic acid compared to women in the placebo group(241.5 � 82.7 versus 322.8 � 127.4, respectively; p < 0.001),and the proportion of women in the tranexamic acid group who had an estimated blood loss 500 mL was significantly lower than in the placebo group ( 5 [4.2%] versus 18 [15%], relative risk [RR]=0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11 to 0.78; P<0.05).Maternal and neonatal outcomes did not differ significantly between both groups.Conclusion: A single large dose of tranexamic acid administrated intravenously before vaginal delivery significantly reduces the amount of postpartum blood loss and contributes to prevention of PPH. Adverse effects were only mild and transient. Thus, tranexamic acid can be used safely and effectively to reduce bleeding after vaginal delivery

Formation des prestataires sur le partogramme et pronostic materno-foetal dans un milieu rural en République Démocratique du Congo

Introduction: Le partogramme est un outil de surveillance du travail d'accouchement, qui est peu utilisé de façon régulière dans certains pays, dont le Burundi. L'objectif de cette étude avait pour objectif de documenter la perception des prestataires de soins à l'utilisation du partogramme et les barrières à son utilisation dans les formations sanitaires du Burundi.Méthodes: Des interviews et focus groups ont été réalisés avec des prestataires, en français et en langue locale le Kirundi. Des questionnaires en français ont été distribués aux prestataires qui ont répondu aux interviews. Les renseignements obtenus grâce aux interviews et focus groups ont été transcrits par thème et analysés par le logiciel Weft QDA. Les réponses au questionnaire ont été saisies par Microsoft Access.Résultats: Le partogramme est apprécié par les répondants pour sa facilité de montrer la progression du travail et de permettre la communication entre soignants. Cependant, plusieurs d'entre eux trouvent que le partogramme ne donne pas de valeur ajoutée. Les facteurs décourageants son utilisation sont une surcharge du travail pour les prestataires et le manque de personnel formé à son utilisation.Conclusion: Bien que le Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Lutte contre le SIDA (MSPLS) ait couvert presque tous les districts sanitaires en matière de formation sur l'utilisation du partogramme, ces formations n'ont pas suffit pour déclencher et perpétuer son utilisation. Cette étude montre en particulier le rapport entre la motivation d'utilisation du partogramme et la vérification de cette utilisation par les superviseurs et les médecins

Problematique du systeme de reference-contre-reference des urgences obstetricales et l'implication des communautes dans le district de Bamako

But : Cette etude a pour but d'evaluer les difficultes du systeme de reference contre-reference dans le district sanitaire de la Commune V de Bamako. Patients et Methodes: C'est une etude transversale descriptive du 05 septembre au 05 novembre 2011dans le district sanitaire de la Commune V de Bamako. Ont ete incluses les patientes referees ou evacuees pour des soins obstetricaux pendant la periode d'etude. N'ont pas ete inclues les patientes venant d'autres aires et structures de sante ou venues d'elles-memes. La saisie des donnees a ete effectuee sur Excel 8.0 puis analysees sur les logiciels Epi info3.5.3 et STATA. Resu(tats : Durant la periode d'etude nous avons enregistre 1824 cas d'accouchements parmi lesquelles 180 repondaient aux criteres d'inclusion. Au cours de notre etude 92;2% des references etaient adequates ; 78;3 % etaient justifiees et 72;2 % etaient opportunes. Par ailleurs seul le centre de reference de la commune V avait paye sa quote-part pendant la periode de l'etude. Conc(us ion : Notre etude a montre que l'insuffisance des moyens logistiques et la non implication des communautes handicapent le fonctionnement du systeme de reference dans la commune V du District de Bamako

Predictors of vaginal delivery in nulliparous mothers

Background: Nulliparity is an obstetric high-risk group whose labor, compared with multiparae, are more likely to develop labor abnormalities that requires intervention. The aim of this report is todetermine factors that influence vaginal delivery in nulliparae. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was done on 286 eligible booked nulliparae in labor, to determine factors associated with vaginal delivery. Information about each patient's social demographic factors, and physical characteristics such as height and weight, events in labor and mode of delivery were recorded in the data sheet. Bivariate analysis was done using Chi square, while multivariate analysis was done using logistic regression. Level of significance was put at P < 0.05. Results: Of a total of 944 primigravidae delivered in the unit during the study period, 286 (30.3%) were eligible for the study. Vaginal delivery was achieved in 214 (74.8%) of the eligible parturient, while 72 (25.2%) had emergency caesarean delivery. Indications for the caesarean delivery were: failure to progress (46; 63.9%), fetal distress (20; 27.8%), maternal distress (5; 8.0%), and rapidly developing pre-eclampsia in labor (1, 0.3%). The birth weight of the baby ranged between 2.0 and 4.5 kg with mean weight of 3.1 ± 0.4 kg. Birth weight (odd ratio [OR] = 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.21-0.78), fetal head engagement in early labor (OR = 10.30, 95% CI = 1.35-78.69), and maternal body mass index (BMI) (odd ratio [OR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-4.20) were found to be predictors of vaginal delivery. Conclusion: Normal range of maternal BMI, fetal head engagement and normal range of fetal birth weight were found to be the factors associated with vaginal delivery in nulliparae. Variations in these three factors may be the underlying reason for failure to progress, which is the most common indication for caesarean section among this population of parturient

Determinants of postnatal care use in Kenya

Pregnancy related complications may result in maternal deaths post delivery especially in developing countries. Skilled deliveries and postnatal care (PNC) use in Kenya is low. The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of PNC use. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2008-09 KDHS) women's data were analyzed. Overall data from 3;970 women were analyzed. Results indicate that 47 percent of the women received PNC services. Factors associated with PNC use are mothers' age at delivery of the last child; 4+ ANC visits; urban residence; and skilled delivery. However; lack of education and unskilled delivery were associated with low use of PNC services (p 0.05). In conclusion; the use of PNC services is low at 47 percent although the main determinants for PNC use are amenable to intervention. Strengthening of maternal health services throughout the continuum of care and promoting the use of high quality services by pregnant women is recommended