Quality of antenatal and childbirth care in selected rural health facilities in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania: similar finding

Trop Med Int Health. 2013 May;18(5):534-47. doi: 10.1111/tmi.12076. Epub 2013 Feb 12.

Abstract

Objectives: To measure pre-intervention quality of routine antenatal and childbirth care in rural districts of Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania and to identify shortcomings.

Methods: In each country, we selected two adjoining rural districts. Within each district, we randomly sampled 6 primary healthcare facilities. Quality of care was assessed through health facility surveys, direct observation of antenatal and childbirth care, exit interviews and review of patient records.

Results: By and large, quality of antenatal and childbirth care in the six districts was satisfactory, but we did identify some critical gaps common to the study sites in all three countries. Counselling and health education practices are poor; laboratory investigations are often not performed; examination and monitoring of mother and newborn during childbirth are inadequate; partographs are not used. Equipment required to provide assisted vaginal deliveries (vacuum extractor or forceps) was absent in all surveyed facilities.

Conclusion: Quality of care in the three study sites can be improved with the available human resources and without major investments. This improvement could reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Burkina Faso
  • Counseling
  • Delivery, Obstetric / instrumentation
  • Female
  • Ghana
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Maternal Health Services / standards
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Obstetric Labor Complications / therapy
  • Perinatal Care / standards*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care / standards*
  • Quality of Health Care / standards*
  • Rural Health Services / standards*
  • Surgical Instruments / supply & distribution
  • Tanzania
  • Young Adult