Bypassing or successful referral? A population-based study of reasons why women travel far for childbirth in Eastern Uganda

Factors associated with bypassing primary healthcare facilities for childbirth among women in Devchuli municipality of Nepal

BACKGROUND

It is crucial to deliver a child at nearby primary healthcare facilities to prevent subsequent maternal or neonatal complications. In low-resource settings, such as Nepal, it is customary to forgo the neighboring primary healthcare facilities for child delivery. Reports are scanty about the extent and reasons for bypassing local health centers in Nepal. This study sought to determine the prevalence and contributing factors among women bypassing primary healthcare facilities for childbirth.

METHOD

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Devchuli municipality of Nawalparasi East district of Nepal. Utilizing an online data collection tool, structured interviews were conducted among 314 mothers having a child who is less than one year of age.

RESULTS

This study showed that 58.9% of the respondents chose to bypass their nearest primary healthcare facility to deliver their babies in secondary or tertiary hospitals. Respondent's husband's employment status; informal employment (AOR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.8-10.2) and formal employment (AOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5-6.8), wealth quintile (AOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.7-7.7), parity (AOR): 3.0; 95% CI: 1.6-5.7], distance to nearest primary healthcare facility by the usual mode of transportation (AOR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5-5.6) and perceived service quality of primary healthcare facility (AOR: 3.759; 95% CI: 2.0-7.0) were associated with greater likelihood of bypassing primary healthcare facility.

CONCLUSION

Enhancing the quality of care, and informing beneficiaries about the importance of delivering children at primary healthcare facilities are essential for improving maternal service utilization at local primary healthcare facilities.

Self-referral practice and associated factors among women who gave birth in South Gondar zone primary hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design

Background

Patient self-referral is when patients refer themselves to upper-level health facilities without having to see anyone else first or without being told to refer themselves by another health professional. Self-referral leads to a diminished quality of healthcare services. However, globally, many women who gave birth referred themselves to hospitals without having referral sheets, including in Ethiopia and the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess self-referral practice and associated factors among women who gave birth in South Gondar zone primary hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted among women who gave birth in South Gondar zone primary hospitals between 1 June 2022 and 15 July 2022. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to gather quantitative data from 561 participants who were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from selected six key informants. Quantitative data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6.0.4 and then exported to the statistical software SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Thematic analysis using open code version 4.02 software was applied for qualitative data analysis. A binary logistic regression analysis was employed. In a bivariable analysis, a p < 0.25 was used to select candidate variables for multivariable analysis. P < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used to determine significant variables on the outcome of interest.

Results

The overall magnitude of self-referral was 45.6%, with 95% CI (41.5%, 49.9%). They had no antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.64-5.57) and 1-3 ANC follow-ups (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.03-2.41), poor knowledge about the referral system (AOR = 4.04, 95% CI: 2.30-7.09), and use of public transportation (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.43-3.82), which were significantly associated with self-referral practice.

Conclusion

This study showed that nearly half of the deliveries were self-referred. ANC follow-up, women's knowledge of the referral system, and mode of transportation were factors significantly associated with the self-referral practice. Therefore, developing awareness-creation strategies and increasing coverage of ANC 4 and above are necessary interventions to reduce the self-referral practice.

Choice of a family planning outlet in urban areas: The role of distance and quality of services in Kenya and Uganda

Introduction

Quality of care and physical access to health facilities affect facility choice for family planning (FP). These factors may disproportionately impact young contraceptive users. Understanding which components of service quality drive facility choice among contraceptive users of all ages can inform strategies to strengthen FP programming for all potential users of FP.

Methods

This study uses data from Population Services International's Consumer's Market for Family Planning (CM4FP) project, to examine drivers of facility choice among female FP users. The data collected from female contraceptive users, the outlet where they obtained their contraceptive method, and the complete set of alternative outlets in select urban areas of Kenya and Uganda were used. We use a mixed logit model, with inverse probability weights to correct for selection into categories of nonuse and missing facility data. We consider results separately for youth (18–24) and women aged 25–49 in both countries.

Results

We find that in both countries and across age groups, users were willing to travel further to public outlets and to outlets offering more methods. Other outlet attributes, including signage, pharmacy, stockouts, and provider training, were important to women in certain age groups or country.

Discussion

These results shed light on what components of service quality drive outlet choice among young and older users and can inform strategies to strengthen FP programming for all potential users of FP in urban settings.

Quality of maternal healthcare and travel time influence birthing service utilisation in Ghanaian health facilities: a geographical analysis of routine health data

OBJECTIVES

To investigate how the quality of maternal health services and travel times to health facilities affect birthing service utilisation in Eastern Region, Ghana.

DESIGN

The study is a cross-sectional spatial interaction analysis of birth service utilisation patterns. Routine birth data were spatially linked to quality care, service demand and travel time data.

SETTING

131 Health facilities (public, private and faith-based) in 33 districts in Eastern Region, Ghana.

PARTICIPANTS

Women who gave birth in health facilities in the Eastern Region, Ghana in 2017.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The count of women giving birth, the quality of birthing care services and the geographic coverage of birthing care services.

RESULTS

As travel time from women's place of residence to the health facility increased up to two2 hours, the utilisation rate markedly decreased. Higher quality of maternal health services haves a larger, positive effect on utilisation rates than service proximity. The quality of maternal health services was higher in hospitals than in primary care facilities. Most women (88.6%) travelling via mechanised transport were within two2 hours of any birthing service. The majority (56.2%) of women were beyond the two2 -hour threshold of critical comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) services. Few CEmONC services were in urban centres, disadvantaging rural populations.

CONCLUSIONS

To increase birthing service utilisation in Ghana, higher quality health facilities should be located closer to women, particularly in rural areas. Beyond Ghana, routinely collected birth records could be used to understand the interaction of service proximity and quality.

Self-referrals and associated factors among laboring mothers at Dilla University Referral Hospital, Dilla, Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

When medical cases are difficult to manage at the level of primary health care units (PHCU), formal referral assists patients transferring to a higher level of care. In contrast, self-referral and bypassing are synonymously used in literature to describe the phenomenon of patients skipping their units to get basic medical services, even though they are close to their residence. Though proper and timely referral prevents the majority of deaths from obstetric complications in developing countries, more than 50% of referrals are self-referral trends. Such patient practice is increasingly becoming a concern for many health-care systems.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the magnitude of self-referrals and associated factors among laboring mothers at Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia.

METHODS

Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1-September 30/2021 among laboring mothers at Dilla University Referral Hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 375 laboring mothers. Data were collected using a face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into a computer using Epi-Data 4.6 statistical program and then exported to STATA version 16 for analysis. In bivariate analysis variables with a p-value ≤ 0.25 were selected as a candidate variable for the multivariable analysis. P-value < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval considered as a statistically significant associations in the multivariable analysis.

RESULT

375 eligible mothers participated in the study, with a response rate of 98.16%. The magnitude of self-referrals among laboring mothers was 246 (65.6%) with 95% CI (0.60-0.70). Time ≥ 30 min to reach nearby facilities (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI, 1.08, 2.81), having no medicine supplies at nearby facilities (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI, 1.08, 2.82), having no equipment and supplies at nearby facilities (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.03, 2.78), having ANC visits ˃ 3 times (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI, 0.15, 0.55) and having poor perception of health provider technical competence at nearby facilities (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI, 1.83, 4.79) were found as significant factors for self-referral.

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of self-referral was high. Frequent Antenatal visits were protective, however time to reach the nearest facilities, perception towards health care providers, medicine, equipment and supplies at the nearest facilities were positive influencing factors. Government stakeholders should keep working on improving the quality of health service, especially at primary health care units(PHCU).

Health Care Workers' Experiences, Challenges of Obstetric Referral Processes and Self-Reported Solutions in South Western Uganda: Mixed Methods Study

Introduction

In resource limited settings, the highest burden of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes at referral hospitals is registered from emergency obstetric referrals from lower health facilities. Implementation of referral protocols has not been optimally successful possibly attributed to lack of understanding of profile of obstetric referrals and local challenges faced during implementation process.

Objective

This study described the profile of emergency obstetric referrals, challenges faced in implementation of obstetric referral processes and explored self-reported solutions by health workers.

Methods

This was a mixed methods study done at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) and health centre IVs in South-Western Uganda. We consecutively recruited emergency obstetric referrals from Isingiro district for delivery at MRRH. Using a pre-tested questionnaire, we collected demographics, obstetric and referral characteristics. We described the profile of referrals using frequencies and proportions based on demographics, obstetric and referral characteristics. We conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with health workers using discussion/interview guides. Using thematic analysis, we ascertained the challenges and health worker self-reported solutions.

Results

We recruited 161 referrals: 104(65%) were below 26 years, 16(10%) had no formal education, 11(7%) reported no income, 151(94%) had no professional-escort, 137(85%) used taxis, 151(96%) were referred by midwives. Common diagnoses were previous cesarean scar (24% [n=39]) and prolonged labour (21% [n=33]). There was no communication prior to referral and no feedback from MRRH to lower health facilities. Other challenges included inconsistencies of ambulance and anesthesia services, electric power, medical supplies, support supervision, and harassment by colleagues. Self-reported solutions included the use of phone call technology for communication, audit meetings, support supervision and increasing staffing level.

Conclusion

Most referrals are of poor social-economic status, use taxis, and lack professional-escort. Health workers suffer harassment, lack of communication and shortage of supplies. We need to experiment whether mobile phone technology could solve the communication gap.

Health care seeking in modern urban LMIC settings: evidence from Lusaka, Zambia

Background

In an effort to improve population health, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have expanded access to public primary care facilities and removed user fees for services in these facilities. However, a growing literature suggests that many patients bypass nearby primary care facilities to seek care at more distant or higher-level facilities. Patients in urban areas, a growing segment of the population in LMICs, generally have more options for where to seek care than patients in rural areas. However, evidence on care-seeking trajectories and bypassing patterns in urban areas remains relatively scarce.

Methods

We obtained a complete list of public health facilities and interviewed randomly selected informal sector households across 31 urban areas in Lusaka District, Zambia. All households and facilities listed were geocoded, and care-seeking trajectories mapped across the entire urban area. We analyzed three types of bypassing: i) not using health centers or health posts for primary care; ii) seeking care outside of the residential neighborhood; iii) directly seeking care at teaching hospitals.

Results

A total of 620 households were interviewed, linked to 88 health facilities. Among 571 adults who had recently sought non-emergency care, 65% sought care at a hospital. Among 141 children who recently sought care for diarrhea, cough, fever, or fast breathing, 34% sought care at a hospital. 71% of adults bypassed primary care facilities, 26% bypassed health centers and hospitals close to them for more distant facilities, and 8% directly sought care at a teaching hospital. Bypassing was also observed for 59% of children, who were more likely to seek care outside of the formal care sector, with 21% of children treated at drug shops or pharmacies.

Conclusions

The results presented here strongly highlight the complexity of urban health systems. Most adult patients in Lusaka do not use public primary health facilities for non-emergency care, and heavily rely on pharmacies and drug shops for treatment of children. Major efforts will likely be needed if the government wants to instate health centers as the principal primary care access point in this setting.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13549-3.

Distance matters: barriers to antenatal care and safe childbirth in a migrant population on the Thailand-Myanmar border from 2007 to 2015, a pregnancy cohort study

BACKGROUND

Antenatal care and skilled childbirth services are important interventions to improve maternal health and lower the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes and mortality. A growing body of literature has shown that geographic distance to clinics can be a disincentive towards seeking care during pregnancy. On the Thailand-Myanmar border antenatal clinics serving migrant populations have found high rates of loss to follow-up of 17.4%, but decades of civil conflict have made the underlying factors difficult to investigate. Here we perform a comprehensive study examining the geographic, demographic, and health-related factors contributing to loss to follow-up.

METHODS

Using patient records we conducted a spatial and epidemiological analysis looking for predictors of loss to follow-up and pregnancy outcomes between 2007 and 2015. We used multivariable negative binomial regressions to assess for associations between distance travelled to the clinic and birth outcomes (loss to follow-up, pregnancy complications, and time of first presentation for antenatal care.) RESULTS: We found distance travelled to clinic strongly predicts loss to follow-up, miscarriage, malaria infections in pregnancy, and presentation for antenatal care after the first trimester. People lost to follow-up travelled 50% farther than people who had a normal singleton childbirth (a ratio of distances (DR) 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4 - 1.5). People with pregnancies complicated by miscarriage travelled 20% farther than those who did not have miscarriages (DR: 1.2; CI 1.1-1.3), and those with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy travelled 60% farther than those without P. falciparum (DR: 1.6; CI: 1.6 - 1.8). People who delayed antenatal care until the third trimester travelled 50% farther compared to people who attended in the first trimester (DR: 1.5; CI: 1.4 - 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis provides the first evidence of the complex impact of geography on access to antenatal services and pregnancy outcomes in the rural, remote, and politically complex Thailand-Myanmar border region. These findings can be used to help guide evidence-based interventions to increase uptake of maternal healthcare both in the Thailand-Myanmar region and in other rural, remote, and politically complicated environments.

An assessment of geographical access and factors influencing travel time to emergency obstetric care in the urban state of Lagos, Nigeria

Previous efforts to estimate the travel time to comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have either been based on spatial models or self-reported travel time, both with known inaccuracies. The study objectives were to estimate more realistic travel times for pregnant women in emergency situations using Google Maps, determine system-level factors that influence travel time and use these estimates to assess CEmOC geographical accessibility and coverage in Lagos state, Nigeria. Data on demographics, obstetric history and travel to CEmOC facilities of pregnant women with an obstetric emergency, who presented between 1st November 2018 and 31st December 2019 at a public CEmOC facility were collected from hospital records. Estimated travel times were individually extracted from Google Maps for the period of the day of travel. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to test associations between travel and health system-related factors with reaching the facility >60 minutes. Mean travel times were compared and geographical coverage mapped to identify ‘hotspots’ of predominantly >60 minutes travel to facilities. For the 4005 pregnant women with traceable journeys, travel time ranges were 2–240 minutes (without referral) and 7–320 minutes (with referral). Total travel time was within the 60 and 120 minute benchmark for 80 and 96% of women, respectively. The period of the day of travel and having been referred were significantly associated with travelling >60 minutes. Many pregnant women living in the central cities and remote towns typically travelled to CEmOC facilities around them. We identified four hotspots from which pregnant women travelled >60 minutes to facilities. Mean travel time and distance to reach tertiary referral hospitals were significantly higher than the secondary facilities. Our findings suggest that actions taken to address gaps need to be contextualized. Our approach provides a useful guide for stakeholders seeking to comprehensively explore geographical inequities in CEmOC access within urban/peri-urban LMIC settings.

Influence of travel time and distance to the hospital of care on stillbirths: a retrospective facility-based cross-sectional study in Lagos, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Access to emergency obstetric care can lead to a 45%-75% reduction in stillbirths. However, before a pregnant woman can access this care, she needs to travel to a health facility. Our objective in this study was to assess the influence of distance and travel time to the actual hospital of care on stillbirth.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of pregnant women who presented with obstetric emergencies over a year across all 24 public hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. Reviewing clinical records, we extracted sociodemographic, travel and obstetric data. Extracted travel data were exported to Google Maps, where typical distance and travel time for period-of-day they travelled were extracted. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the relative influence of distance and travel time on stillbirth.

RESULTS

Of 3278 births, there were 408 stillbirths (12.5%). Women with livebirths travelled a median distance of 7.3 km (IQR 3.3-18.0) and over a median time of 24 min (IQR 12-51). Those with stillbirths travelled a median distance of 8.5 km (IQR 4.4-19.7) and over a median time of 30 min (IQR 16-60). Following adjustments, though no significant association with distance was found, odds of stillbirth were significantly higher for travel of 10-29 min (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.63), 30-59 min (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.34) and 60-119 min (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.25). The adjusted OR of stillbirth was significantly lower following booking (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.49), obstetric complications with mother (obstructed labour (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.17) and haemorrhage (OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.20 to 0.46)). Odds were significantly higher with multiple gestations (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.69) and referral (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.12).

CONCLUSION

Travel time to a hospital was strongly associated with stillbirth. In addition to birth preparedness, efforts to get quality care quicker to women or women quicker to quality care will be critical for efforts to reduce stillbirths in a principally urban low-income and middle-income setting.

Mobility for maternal health among women in hard-to-reach fishing communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda; a community-based cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Maternal mortality is still a challenge in Uganda, at 336 deaths per 100,000 live births, especially in rural hard to reach communities. Distance to a health facility influences maternal deaths. We explored women's mobility for maternal health, distances travelled for antenatal care (ANC) and childbirth among hard-to-reach Lake Victoria islands fishing communities (FCs) of Kalangala district, Uganda.

METHODS

A cross sectional survey among 450 consenting women aged 15-49 years, with a prior childbirth was conducted in 6 islands FCs, during January-May 2018. Data was collected on socio-demographics, ANC, birth attendance, and distances travelled from residence to ANC or childbirth during the most recent childbirth. Regression modeling was used to determine factors associated with over 5 km travel distance and mobility for childbirth.

RESULTS

The majority of women were residing in communities with a government (public) health facility [84.2 %, (379/450)]. Most ANC was at facilities within 5 km distance [72 %, (157/218)], while most women had travelled outside their communities for childbirth [58.9 %, (265/450)]. The longest distance travelled was 257.5 km for ANC and 426 km for childbirth attendance. Travel of over 5 km for childbirth was associated with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) [AOR = 1.9, 95 % CI (1.1-3.6)], up to five years residency duration [AOR = 1.8, 95 % CI (1.0-3.3)], and absence of a public health facility in the community [AOR = 6.1, 95 % CI (1.4-27.1)]. Women who had stayed in the communities for up to 5 years [AOR = 3.0, 95 % CI (1.3-6.7)], those whose partners had completed at least eight years of formal education [AOR = 2.2, 95 % CI (1.0-4.7)], and those with up to one lifetime birth [AOR = 6.0, 95 % CI (2.0-18.1)] were likely to have moved to away from their communities for childbirth.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite most women who attended ANC doing so within their communities, we observed that majority chose to give birth outside their communities. Longer travel distances were more likely among AGYW, among shorter term community residents and where public health facilities were absent.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PACTR201903906459874 (Retrospectively registered). https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=5977 .

Critical comparative analysis of data sources toward understanding referral during pregnancy and childbirth: three perspectives from Nigeria

BACKGROUND

The highest risk of maternal and perinatal deaths occurs during and shortly after childbirth and is preventable if functional referral systems enable women to reach appropriate health services when obstetric complications occur. Rising numbers of deliveries in health facilities, including in high mortality settings like Nigeria, require formalised coordination across the health system to ensure that women and newborns get to the right level of care, at the right time. This study describes and critically assesses the extent to which referral and its components can be captured using three different data sources from Nigeria, examining issues of data quality, validity, and usefulness for improving and monitoring obstetric care systems.

METHODS

The study included three data sources on referral for childbirth care in Nigeria: a nationally representative household survey, patient records from multiple facilities in a state, and patient records from the apex referral facility in a city. We conducted descriptive analyses of the extent to which referral status and components were captured across the three sources. We also iteratively developed a visual conceptual framework to guide our critical comparative analysis.

RESULTS

We found large differences in the proportion of women referred, and this reflected the different denominators and timings of the referral in each data source. Between 16 and 34% of referrals in the three sources originated in government hospitals, and lateral referrals (origin and destination facility of the same level) were observed in all three data sources. We found large gaps in the coverage of key components of referral as well as data gaps where this information was not routinely captured in facility-based sources.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analyses illustrated different perspectives from the national- to facility-level in the capture of the extent and components of obstetric referral. By triangulating across multiple data sources, we revealed the strengths and gaps within each approach in building a more complete picture of obstetric referral. We see our visual framework as assisting further research efforts to ensure all referral pathways are captured in order to better monitor and improve referral systems for women and newborns.

The status of emergency obstetric and newborn care in post-conflict eastern DRC: a facility-level cross-sectional study

Background

Pregnancy-related mortality remains persistently higher in post-conflict areas. Part of the blame lies with continued disruption to vital care provision, especially emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC). In such settings, assessment of EmONC is essential for data-driven interventions needed to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal mortality. In the North Kivu Province (NKP), the epicentre of armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2006 and 2013, the post-conflict status of EmONC is unknown. We assessed the availability, use, and quality of EmONC in 3 health zones (HZs) of the NKP to contribute to informed policy and programming in improving maternal and newborn health (MNH) in the region.

Method

A cross-sectional survey of all 42 public facilities designated to provide EmONC in 3 purposively selected HZs in the NKP (Goma, Karisimbi, and Rutshuru) was conducted in 2017. Interviews, reviews of maternity ward records, and observations were used to assess the accessibility, use, and quality of EmONC against WHO standards.

Results

Only three referral facilities (two faith-based facilities in Goma and the MSF-supported referral hospital of Rutshuru) met the criteria for comprehensive EmONC. None of the health centres qualified as basic EmONC, nor could they offer EmONC services 24 h, 7 days a week (24/7). The number of functioning EmONC per 500,000 population was 1.5. Assisted vaginal delivery was the least performed signal function, followed by parenteral administration of anticonvulsants, mainly due to policy restrictions and lack of demand. The 3 HZs fell short of WHO standards for the use and quality of EmONC. The met need for EmONC was very low and the direct obstetric case fatality rate exceeded the maximum acceptable level. However, the proportion the proportion of births by caesarean section in EmONC facilities was within acceptable range in the HZs of Goma and Rutshuru. Overall, the intrapartum and very early neonatal death rate was 1.5%.

Conclusion

This study provides grounds for the development of coordinated and evidence-based programming, involving local and external stakeholders, as part of the post-conflict effort to address maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the NKP. Particular attention to basic EmONC is required, focusing on strengthening human resources, equipment, supply chains, and referral capacity, on the one hand, and on tackling residual insecurity that might hinder 24/7 staff availability, on the other.

Institutionalizing a Regional Model for Improving Quality of Newborn Care at Birth Across Hospitals in Eastern Uganda: A 4-Year Story

A locally developed, low-cost package of interventions implemented in a regional network of hospitals resulted in significant reductions in mortality for mothers and newborns as well as the institutionalization of the quality improvement initiative. This work demonstrates that it is possible to achieve the World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund Quality of Care targets in hospitals.

Introduction:

Despite the rapid increase in facility deliveries in Uganda, the number of adverse birth outcomes (e.g., neonatal and maternal deaths) has remained high. We aimed to codesign and co-implement a locally designed package of interventions to improve the quality of care in hospitals in the Busoga region.

Design and Implementation:

This project was designed and implemented in 3 phases in the 6 main hospitals in east-central Uganda from 2013 to 2016. First, the inception phase engaged health system managers to codesign the intervention. Second, the implementation phase involved training health providers, strengthening the data information system, and providing catalytic equipment and medicines to establish newborn care units (NCUs) within the existing infrastructure. Third, the hospital collaborative phase focused on clinical mentorship, maternal and perinatal death reviews (MPDRs), and collaborative learning sessions.

Achievements:

In all 6 participating hospitals, we achieved institutionalization of NCUs in maternity units by establishing kangaroo mother care areas, resuscitation corners, and routine MPDRs. These improvements were associated with reduced maternal and neonatal deaths. Facilitators of success included a simple, low-cost, and integrated package designed with local health managers; the emergence of local neonatal care champions; implementation and support over a reasonably long period; decentralization of newborn care services; and use of mainly existing local resources (e.g., physical space, human resources, and commodities). Barriers to success related to limited hospital resources, unstable electricity, and limited participation from doctors. More advanced NCUs have been established in 3 of the 6 hospitals, and 7 high-volume comprehensive health centers have been established with functional NCUs.

Conclusion:

The involvement of local health workers and leaders was the foundation for designing, sustaining, and scaling up feasible interventions by harnessing available resources. These findings are relevant for the quality of care improvement efforts in Uganda and other resource-restrained settings.

"In cities, it's not far, but it takes long": comparing estimated and replicated travel times to reach life-saving obstetric care in Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Travel time to comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) facilities in low-resource settings is commonly estimated using modelling approaches. Our objective was to derive and compare estimates of travel time to reach CEmOC in an African megacity using models and web-based platforms against actual replication of travel.

METHODS

We extracted data from patient files of all 732 pregnant women who presented in emergency in the four publicly owned tertiary CEmOC facilities in Lagos, Nigeria, between August 2018 and August 2019. For a systematically selected subsample of 385, we estimated travel time from their homes to the facility using the cost-friction surface approach, Open Source Routing Machine (OSRM) and Google Maps, and compared them to travel time by two independent drivers replicating women's journeys. We estimated the percentage of women who reached the facilities within 60 and 120 min.

RESULTS

The median travel time for 385 women from the cost-friction surface approach, OSRM and Google Maps was 5, 11 and 40 min, respectively. The median actual drive time was 50-52 min. The mean errors were >45 min for the cost-friction surface approach and OSRM, and 14 min for Google Maps. The smallest differences between replicated and estimated travel times were seen for night-time journeys at weekends; largest errors were found for night-time journeys at weekdays and journeys above 120 min. Modelled estimates indicated that all participants were within 60 min of the destination CEmOC facility, yet journey replication showed that only 57% were, and 92% were within 120 min.

CONCLUSIONS

Existing modelling methods underestimate actual travel time in low-resource megacities. Significant gaps in geographical access to life-saving health services like CEmOC must be urgently addressed, including in urban areas. Leveraging tools that generate 'closer-to-reality' estimates will be vital for service planning if universal health coverage targets are to be realised by 2030.

The perfect storm: Disruptions to institutional delivery care arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to system-wide disruption of health services globally. We assessed the effect of the pandemic on the disruption of institutional delivery care in Nepal.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study among 52 356 women in nine hospitals to assess the disruption of institutional delivery care during the pandemic (comparing March to August in 2019 with the same months in 2020). We also conducted a nested follow up cohort study with 2022 women during the pandemic to assess their provision and experience of respectful care. We used linear regression models to assess the association between provision and experience of care with volume of hospital births and women's residence in a COVID-19 hotspot area.

RESULTS

The mean institutional births during the pandemic across the nine hospitals was 24 563, an average decrease of 11.6% (P < 0.0001) in comparison to the same time-period in 2019. The institutional birth in high-medium volume hospitals declined on average by 20.8% (P < 0.0001) during the pandemic, whereas in low-volume hospital institutional birth increased on average by 7.9% (P = 0.001). Maternity services halted for a mean of 4.3 days during the pandemic and there was a redeployment staff to COVID-19 dedicated care. Respectful provision of care was better in hospitals with low-volume birth (β = 0.446, P < 0.0001) in comparison to high-medium-volume hospitals. There was a positive association between women's residence in a COVID-19 hotspot area and respectful experience of care (β = 0.076, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has had differential effects on maternity services with changes varying by the volume of births per hospital with smaller volume facilities doing better. More research is needed to investigate the effects of the pandemic on where women give birth and their provision and experience of respectful maternity care to inform a "building-back-better" approach in post-pandemic period.