Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan

Abstract Background Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care services in Pakistan remain a challenge considering continued high burden of maternal and newborn mortality. This study aimed to assess the availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care in Sindh Province of Pakistan. Methods...

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Main Authors: Ramesh Kumar, Jamil Ahmed, Fozia Anwar, Ratana Somrongthong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-12-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4830-6
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author Ramesh Kumar
Jamil Ahmed
Fozia Anwar
Ratana Somrongthong
author_facet Ramesh Kumar
Jamil Ahmed
Fozia Anwar
Ratana Somrongthong
author_sort Ramesh Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care services in Pakistan remain a challenge considering continued high burden of maternal and newborn mortality. This study aimed to assess the availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care in Sindh Province of Pakistan. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted in twelve districts of the Sindh province in Pakistan. The districts were selected based on the maternal neonatal and child health indicators. Data were collected from 63 public-sector health facilities including district, Taluka (subdistrict) headquarters hospitals and rural health centers. Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric newborn care services were assessed through direct observations and interviews with the heads of the health facilities by using a World Health Organization pretested and validated data collection tool. Participants interviewed in this study included the managers and auxiliary staff and in health facilities. Results Availability of caesarean section (23, 95% C.I. 14.0–35.0) and blood transfusion services (57, 95% CI. 44.0–68.0), the two components of comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, was poor in our study. However, assessment of the seven components of basic emergency obstetric and newborn services showed that 92% of the health facilities (95% C.I. 88.0–96.0) had parenteral antibiotics, 90%, (95% C.I. 80.0–95.0) had oxytocin, 92% (95% CI 88.0–96.0) had manual removal of the placenta service, 87% (95%, C.I. 76.0–93.0) of the facilities had staff who could remove retained products of conception, 82% (95% C.I. 71.0–89.0) had facilities for normal birth and 80% (95% C.I. 69.0–88.0) reported presence of neonatal resuscitation service. Conclusion Though the basic obstetric and newborn services were reasonably available, comprehensive obstetric and newborn services were not available as per the World Health Organization’s standards in the surveyed public health facilities. Ensuring the availability of caesarean section and blood transfusion services within these facilities may improve population’s access to these essential services around birth.
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spelling doaj.art-11341eebc9814fbdaf85a24d415233002022-12-21T23:20:27ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632019-12-011911710.1186/s12913-019-4830-6Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in PakistanRamesh Kumar0Jamil Ahmed1Fozia Anwar2Ratana Somrongthong3Health Services AcademyDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf UniversityCOMSATS Institute of Information TechnologyCollege of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn UniversityAbstract Background Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care services in Pakistan remain a challenge considering continued high burden of maternal and newborn mortality. This study aimed to assess the availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care in Sindh Province of Pakistan. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted in twelve districts of the Sindh province in Pakistan. The districts were selected based on the maternal neonatal and child health indicators. Data were collected from 63 public-sector health facilities including district, Taluka (subdistrict) headquarters hospitals and rural health centers. Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric newborn care services were assessed through direct observations and interviews with the heads of the health facilities by using a World Health Organization pretested and validated data collection tool. Participants interviewed in this study included the managers and auxiliary staff and in health facilities. Results Availability of caesarean section (23, 95% C.I. 14.0–35.0) and blood transfusion services (57, 95% CI. 44.0–68.0), the two components of comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, was poor in our study. However, assessment of the seven components of basic emergency obstetric and newborn services showed that 92% of the health facilities (95% C.I. 88.0–96.0) had parenteral antibiotics, 90%, (95% C.I. 80.0–95.0) had oxytocin, 92% (95% CI 88.0–96.0) had manual removal of the placenta service, 87% (95%, C.I. 76.0–93.0) of the facilities had staff who could remove retained products of conception, 82% (95% C.I. 71.0–89.0) had facilities for normal birth and 80% (95% C.I. 69.0–88.0) reported presence of neonatal resuscitation service. Conclusion Though the basic obstetric and newborn services were reasonably available, comprehensive obstetric and newborn services were not available as per the World Health Organization’s standards in the surveyed public health facilities. Ensuring the availability of caesarean section and blood transfusion services within these facilities may improve population’s access to these essential services around birth.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4830-6Maternal healthNewborn careBasic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care
spellingShingle Ramesh Kumar
Jamil Ahmed
Fozia Anwar
Ratana Somrongthong
Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan
BMC Health Services Research
Maternal health
Newborn care
Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care
title Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan
title_full Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan
title_fullStr Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan
title_short Availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of Sindh province in Pakistan
title_sort availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care services at public health facilities of sindh province in pakistan
topic Maternal health
Newborn care
Basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4830-6
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AT foziaanwar availabilityofemergencyobstetricandnewborncareservicesatpublichealthfacilitiesofsindhprovinceinpakistan
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