Improving availability of EmOC services in Rwanda--CARE's experiences and lessons learned at Kabgayi Referral Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: CARE's work in Rwanda was designed to improve the functional capacity of health facilities for the delivery of EmOC services. METHODS: The project supported a comprehensive package of focused interventions that included hospital renovations, provision of essential equipment, training of staff and improvement of management systems at the Kabgayi regional referral hospital. RESULTS: There was an increased level of preparedness for emergencies and ability to manage common obstetric complications according to evidence-based practices. These changes ultimately led to increased availability, quality and use of services as demonstrated by an increase in the demand for care of obstetric complications at the facility. The met need increased from 16% at the start of the project (2001) to 25% in 2004, while the cesarean rate remained essentially the same (1.9% and 3.2%) over the same time period. There were progressive declines in the case fatality rates from 2.2% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2004. CONCLUSION: CARE's experience indicates that progress towards reducing maternal mortality requires specific efforts that support and strengthen existing health systems to provide skilled care that can save women's lives.

Strengthening emergency obstetric care in Ayacucho, Peru.

OBJECTIVE: With support from the Averting Maternal Death and Disability (AMDD) Program, CARE began the FEMME Project in 2000 to increase access and utilization of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) services for the approximately 48,000 pregnant women in the northern provinces of Ayacucho. METHODS: The project targeted 5 facilities with a comprehensive package of interventions designed to improve capacity to provide quality EmOC services and to promote a human rights approach in health care. Key program activities included improvements in infrastructure, human resources capacity development, development of service standards and protocols, quality improvement activities, and promoting a rights-based approach to health. RESULTS: By the end of the project, northern Ayacucho had 6 functioning EmOC facilities: 3 comprehensive (including a non-FEMME project facility) and 3 basic. This exceeds the UN minimum recommendation of 5 EmOC facilities per 500,000 population. Other changes in the UN process indicators indicate an increase in quality and utilization of EmOC services. Met need for EmOC increased significantly from 30% in 2000 to a high of 84% in 2004. Case fatality rates declined and the number of maternal deaths in the entire region declined. CONCLUSION: CARE's work in Ayacucho made an impact on policies and programs related to EmOC throughout the region. Within CARE, project experiences have supported maternal health programs particularly in the Latin American/Caribbean region.

Making EmOC a reality--CARE's experiences in areas of high maternal mortality in Africa.

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the package of interventions undertaken by the CARE/AMDD program collaboration to increase the availability and quality of emergency obstetric care for 3 high maternal mortality countries in Africa. METHODS: Project implementation over 4 years focused on enhancing the capacity of 10 district hospitals in 3 countries - Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Interventions were designed to create functional health facilities with trained and competent staff, working in an enabling environment supporting EmOC service delivery. RESULTS: By keeping a clear focus on EmOC, the project achieved modest improvements in services, even in the face of the considerable constraints of rural district hospitals. Availability and utilization of EmOC increased in Tanzania; the met need for EmOC increased slightly from 14% in year 1 to 19% in year 4, while in Rwanda it increased from 16% to 25% over 4 years. Case fatality rates (CFR) declined by 30-50% in all 3 countries. While still well below UN recommendations, in all 3 countries there was also a progressive increase in the cesarean section rates, a life saving obstetric intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The increases in met need and decreases in case fatality suggest that project interventions improved the quality and use of EmOC, a critical component for saving women's lives.