To assess the infrastructure, equipment, drug availability and the supply of reproductive care service at commune health stations

ABSTRACT

Background: At commune health stations in Vietnam, there are still limitations of human resources as well as essential drug and equipment supply. However, these problems weren\u2019t assessed comprehensively. Objectives: To describe the infrastructure, equipment, drug availability and the possibility of providing reproductive health services according to National Standard Guidelines on Reproductive Health of these health facilities. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 210 commune health stations, 28 district hospitals, and 14 provincial hospitals. Results:The infrastructure, equipment and essential drugs in these facilities are inefficient and of low quality that leads to limit the provision of reproductive health, especially for basic obstetric care at commune health stations and comprehensive obstetric care at district and provincial hospitals. Only 16.7% of commune health stations can provide basic obstetric care services and 39.3% of district hospitals and 50% of provincial hospitals were providing comprehensive obstetric care services according to the National Standard Guidelines on Reproductive Health. Conclusion: In order to provide good reproductive healthcare services, the health sector should have an investment strategy on infrastructure, medical equipment and essential drugs for health facilities.