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Purno NH, Biswas A, Anderson R, Hoque DME. Responding to Humanitarian Crises: Midwifery Care in Bangladesh. J Midwifery Womens Health 2023; 68:371-375. [PMID: 37255220 DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is often a neglected topic of intervention in humanitarian crises despite its wide-ranging impact on women and girls' well-being. Increasing frequency of climate-induced natural disasters calls for an urgent need to identify innovative practices for sustainable and effective humanitarian preparedness and response to ensure SRHR of affected populations. One such innovation is the empowerment of midwives in disaster response program planning and implementation. This article describes how midwives deployed to rural primary health centers provided quality SRHR services, particularly for labor and birth assistance and initial management of perinatal emergencies and referral in the aftermath of the 2022 flooding in northern and northeastern Bangladesh. Supportive supervision from physicians, adequate health care logistics and supplies, and administrative support from local health authorities created an enabling environment for the midwives. Community engagement through volunteers helped build rapport with residents and allowed patients to navigate health services. Deploying midwives as a response to climate-induced natural disaster was successful in establishing quality SRHR services. Future recommendations include systematically deploying midwives in health centers closest to the communities in locations vulnerable to climate change as part of routine health service delivery. This innovative approach clearly demonstrated that utilization of midwives during and after natural disasters could build community and health system resilience to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabila H Purno
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Animesh Biswas
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rondi Anderson
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Simkovich SM, Underhill LJ, Kirby MA, Crocker ME, Goodman D, McCracken JP, Thompson LM, Diaz-Artiga A, Castañaza-Gonzalez A, Garg SS, Balakrishnan K, Thangavel G, Rosa G, Peel JL, Clasen TF, McCollum ED, Checkley W. Resources and Geographic Access to Care for Severe Pediatric Pneumonia in Four Resource-limited Settings. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 205:183-197. [PMID: 34662531 PMCID: PMC8787246 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202104-1013oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. Identifying and appropriately managing severe pneumonia in a timely manner improves outcomes. Little is known about the readiness of healthcare facilities to manage severe pediatric pneumonia in low-resource settings. Objectives: As part of the HAPIN (Household Air Pollution Intervention Network) trial, we sought to identify healthcare facilities that were adequately resourced to manage severe pediatric pneumonia in Jalapa, Guatemala (J-GUA); Puno, Peru (P-PER); Kayonza, Rwanda (K-RWA); and Tamil Nadu, India (T-IND). We conducted a facility-based survey of available infrastructure, staff, equipment, and medical consumables. Facilities were georeferenced, and a road network analysis was performed. Measurements and Main Results: Of the 350 healthcare facilities surveyed, 13% had adequate resources to manage severe pneumonia, 37% had pulse oximeters, and 44% had supplemental oxygen. Mean (±SD) travel time to an adequately resourced facility was 41 ± 19 minutes in J-GUA, 99 ± 64 minutes in P-PER, 40 ± 19 minutes in K-RWA, and 31 ± 19 minutes in T-IND. Expanding pulse oximetry coverage to all facilities reduced travel time by 44% in J-GUA, 29% in P-PER, 29% in K-RWA, and 11% in T-IND (all P < 0.001). Conclusions: Most healthcare facilities in low-resource settings of the HAPIN study area were inadequately resourced to care for severe pediatric pneumonia. Early identification of cases and timely referral is paramount. The provision of pulse oximeters to all health facilities may be an effective approach to identify cases earlier and refer them for care and in a timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. Simkovich
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, and
- Medstar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, Maryland
| | - Lindsay J. Underhill
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, and
| | - Miles A. Kirby
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary E. Crocker
- Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Dina Goodman
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, and
| | - John P. McCracken
- Global Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | | | - Anaité Diaz-Artiga
- Centro de Estudios de la Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Adly Castañaza-Gonzalez
- Centro de Estudios de la Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Sarada S. Garg
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gurusamy Thangavel
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ghislaine Rosa
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; and
| | - Jennifer L. Peel
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Thomas F. Clasen
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Eric D. McCollum
- Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences and
- Global Program for Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - William Checkley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, and
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Quality and women's satisfaction with maternal referral practices in sub-Saharan African low and lower-middle income countries: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020; 20:682. [PMID: 33176732 PMCID: PMC7656726 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03339-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background sub-Saharan African Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries (sSA LLMICs) have the highest burden of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in the world. Timely and appropriate maternal referral to a suitable health facility is an indicator of effective health systems. In this systematic review we aimed to identify which referral practices are delivered according to accepted standards for pregnant women and newborns in sSA LLMICs by competent healthcare providers in line with the needs of pregnant women. Methods Six electronic databases were systematically searched for primary data studies (2009–2018) in English reporting on maternal referral practices and their effectiveness. We conducted a content analysis guided by a framework for assessing the quality of maternal referral. Quality referral was defined as: timely identification of signal functions, established guidelines or standards, adequate documentation, staff accompaniment and prompt care by competent healthcare providers in the receiving facility. Results Seventeen articles were included in the study. Most studies were quantitative (n = 11). Two studies reported that women were dissatisfied due to delays in referral processes that affected their health. Most articles (10) reported that women were not accompanied to higher levels of care, delays in referral processes, transport challenges and poor referral documentation. Some healthcare providers administered essential drugs such as misoprostol prior to referral. Conclusions Efforts to improve maternal health in LLMICs should aim to enhance maternity care providers’ ability to identify conditions that demand referral. Low cost transport is needed to mitigate barriers of referral. To ensure quality maternal referral, district level health managers should be trained and equipped with the skills needed to monitor and evaluate referral documentation, including quality and efficiency of maternal referrals. Trial registration Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration CRD42018114261. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12884-020-03339-3.
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Adams AM, Ahmed R, Ahmed S, Yusuf SS, Islam R, Zakaria Salam RM, Panciera R. Modelling improved efficiency in healthcare referral systems for the urban poor using a geo-referenced health facility data: the case of Sylhet City Corporation, Bangladesh. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1476. [PMID: 32993610 PMCID: PMC7526238 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09594-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An effective referral system is critical to ensuring access to appropriate and timely healthcare services. In pluralistic healthcare systems such as Bangladesh, referral inefficiencies due to distance, diversion to inappropriate facilities and unsuitable hours of service are common, particularly for the urban poor. This study explores the reported referral networks of urban facilities and models alternative scenarios that increase referral efficiency in terms of distance and service hours. Methods Road network and geo-referenced facility census data from Sylhet City Corporation were used to examine referral linkages between public, private and NGO facilities for maternal and emergency/critical care services, respectively. Geographic distances were calculated using ArcGIS Network Analyst extension through a “distance matrix” which was imported into a relational database. For each reported referral linkage, an alternative referral destination was identified that provided the same service at a closer distance as indicated by facility geo-location and distance analysis. Independent sample t-tests with unequal variances were performed to analyze differences in distance for each alternate scenario modelled. Results The large majority of reported referrals were received by public facilities. Taking into account distance, cost and hours of service, alternative scenarios for emergency services can augment referral efficiencies by 1.5–1.9 km (p < 0.05) compared to 2.5–2.7 km in the current scenario. For maternal health services, modeled alternate referrals enabled greater referral efficiency if directed to private and NGO-managed facilities, while still ensuring availability after working-hours. These referral alternatives also decreased the burden on Sylhet City’s major public tertiary hospital, where most referrals were directed. Nevertheless, associated costs may be disadvantageous for the urban poor. Conclusions For both maternal and emergency/critical care services, significant distance reductions can be achieved for public, NGO and private facilities that avert burden on Sylhet City’s largest public tertiary hospital. GIS-informed analyses can help strengthen coordination between service providers and contribute to more effective and equitable referral systems in Bangladesh and similar countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alayne M Adams
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 5858 Cote des Neiges, Room 332, Montréal, H3S 1Z1, Québec, Canada. .,Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Rushdia Ahmed
- Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shakil Ahmed
- Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Rubana Islam
- School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Rocco Panciera
- Implementation Research and Delivery Science Unit, Health Section, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA
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Chowdhury AI, Abdullah AYM, Haider R, Alam A, Billah SM, Bari S, Rahman QSU, Jochem WC, Dewan A, El Arifeen S. Analyzing spatial and space-time clustering of facility-based deliveries in Bangladesh. Trop Med Health 2019; 47:44. [PMID: 31346313 PMCID: PMC6636060 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-019-0170-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A spatial and temporal study of the distribution of facility-based deliveries can identify areas of low and high facility usage and help devise more targeted interventions to improve delivery outcomes. Developing countries like Bangladesh face considerable challenges in reducing the maternal mortality ratio to the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals. Recent studies have already identified that the progress of reducing maternal mortality has stalled. Giving birth in a health facility is one way to reduce maternal mortality. Methods Facility delivery data from a demographic surveillance site was analyzed at both village and Bari (comprising several households with same paternal origins) level to understand spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Global spatial autocorrelation was detected using Moran’s I index while local spatial clusters were detected using the local Getis Gi* statistics. In addition, space-time scanning using a discrete Poisson approach facilitated the identification of space-time clusters. The likelihood of delivering at a facility when located inside a cluster was calculated using log-likelihood ratios. Results The three cluster detection approaches detected significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the distribution of facility deliveries in the study area. The hot and cold spots indicated contiguous and relocation type diffusion and increased in number over the years. Space-time scanning revealed that when a parturient woman is located in a Bari inside the cluster, the likelihood of delivering at a health facility increases by twenty-seven times. Conclusions Spatiotemporal studies to understand delivery patterns are quite rare. However, in resource constraint countries like Bangladesh, detecting hot and cold spot areas can aid in the detection of diffusion centers, which can be targeted to expand regions with high facility deliveries. Places and periods with reduced health facility usages can be identified using various cluster detection techniques, to assess the barriers and facilitators in promoting health facility deliveries. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s41182-019-0170-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atique Iqbal Chowdhury
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abu Yousuf Md Abdullah
- 2School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Rafiqul Haider
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh.,3Bureau of Meteorology, Collins St, Docklands, Australia
| | - Asraful Alam
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sk Masum Billah
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sanwarul Bari
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Qazi Sadeq-Ur Rahman
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Warren Christopher Jochem
- 4School of Geography & Environmental Science, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Ashraf Dewan
- 5School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Bentley, Australia
| | - Shams El Arifeen
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Alam M, Banwell C, Olsen A, Lokuge K. Patients' and Doctors' Perceptions of a Mobile Phone-Based Consultation Service for Maternal, Neonatal, and Infant Health Care in Bangladesh: A Mixed-Methods Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e11842. [PMID: 31008716 PMCID: PMC6658262 DOI: 10.2196/11842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A mobile-based consultation service, or telehealth, can be used for remote consultations with health care professionals for screening, self-care management, and referral. In rural Bangladesh, where there is high demand for scarce male and even scarcer female doctors, remote consultations may help women seeking maternal and child health care. Aponjon is a mHealth service in Bangladesh that provides weekly voice or text messages to pregnant women, new mothers, and family members on various aspects of maternal, neonatal, and infant health. Subscribers can also access a dedicated 24*7 call center to discuss maternal, neonatal, and infant health or emergencies with medically trained doctors. The service provides advice, primary diagnoses, prescriptions, and referrals to subscriber callers. Objective We investigated the Aponjon service to understand access, acceptability, usability, benefits, and challenges of a mobile phone-based consultation service. Methods We conducted call log data analysis for September to November 2015 to understand how many unique subscribers accessed the service, who accessed the service, the geographical distribution of callers, and the purpose of the calls. We also conducted a qualitative exploratory substudy of eight married women and eight married men who were subscribers to and accessed the service during this time to understand their experiences. We interviewed 11 doctors from the same service who provided phone consultations to subscribers. Results Approximately 3894 unique subscribers accessed the service for single or multiple consultations during the study period; 68.36% (2662/3894) of subscribers were from rural households, and 53.00% (2064/3894) of calls were made by pregnant women or new mothers. Approximately 96.08% (5081/5288) calls were nonurgent, 2.69% (142/5288) semiurgent, and 1.23% (65/5288) urgent. Almost 64.7% (134/207) semiurgent or urgent calls came between 8 PM and 8 AM. Callers found the consultation service trustworthy, cost-effective, and convenient. The doctors dispelled misconceptions and promoted good health care practices, regular health check-ups, and responsible use of medicine. They helped families understand the severity of sicknesses and advised them to seek care at health facilities for semiurgent or urgent conditions. The service lacked a pro-poor policy to support talk times of subscribers from poor households and a proper referral system to help patients find the right care at the right facilities. Conclusions Although a regular messaging service is constrained by a one-way communication system, this service using the same platform, gave subscribers access to an abbreviated “consultation” with medical doctors. The consultations provided subscribers with valued medical advice and support, although they were limited in their population reach and their integration into the wider medical system. Further research is required to understand the impact of advice and referral, cost-effectiveness, and willingness to pay for mHealth consultation services, but this research suggests that these services should be supported or even expanded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafruha Alam
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cathy Banwell
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Anna Olsen
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Kamalini Lokuge
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Harahap NC, Handayani PW, Hidayanto AN. Barriers and technologies of maternal and neonatal referral system in developing countries: A narrative review. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2019.100184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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