Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study
Abstract Background It is increasingly recognized that improving the quality of maternal health care delivery is of utmost importance in many countries. In Laos, the quality of antenatal care (ANC) service remains inadequate, but it has never been assessed thoroughly. This study aims to determine th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4258-z |
| _version_ | 1828341944403623936 |
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| author | Sysavanh Phommachanh Dirk R. Essink E. Pamela Wright Jacqueline E. W. Broerse Mayfong Mayxay |
| author_facet | Sysavanh Phommachanh Dirk R. Essink E. Pamela Wright Jacqueline E. W. Broerse Mayfong Mayxay |
| author_sort | Sysavanh Phommachanh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background It is increasingly recognized that improving the quality of maternal health care delivery is of utmost importance in many countries. In Laos, the quality of antenatal care (ANC) service remains inadequate, but it has never been assessed thoroughly. This study aims to determine the ANC quality at the urban and rural public health facilities in Laos and provides suggestions to improve health education and counseling in addition to other routine care in public ANC services. Methods This health-facility based, cross-sectional observation study included both health providers (n = 77) and pregnant women (n = 421) from purposively selected health facilities (n = 16). Information on the mothers’ current pregnancies, previous visits and their last children was collected. The time spent for each ANC session as well as ANC services provided were recorded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze the data. Results Overall performance of ANC services by health care providers was poor in both urban and rural areas. Insufficient provision of information on danger signs during pregnancy, nutrition, breast feeding and iron supplements was revealed. Generally the communication skills, behavior and attitude of health providers were very poor. Less than a quarter of pregnant women were treated with kindness and respect. Only 4% of the observed ANC session took privacy into consideration. Less than 10% of available information materials were used during each ANC session. None of the health providers in both rural and urban areas performed specific counseling. Overall mean (SD) time-spent for each ANC session was 16.21 (4.28) minutes. A positive correlation was identified between the length of working experience of health providers and their physical performance scores (adjusted R square = 0.017). Conclusions The overall performance of ANC services by health care providers was inadequate in both urban and rural areas. Insufficient provision of health education and poor communication skills of health care providers were revealed. Existing IEC materials were scarcely used. Taking action to improve the quality of ANC services by training and providing specific guidelines, creating dedicated rooms, and providing sufficient and effective materials for counseling are all greatly needed in public health facilities in Laos. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:22:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-79a68717ae0b41dc9001b6fac1df546c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:22:34Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-79a68717ae0b41dc9001b6fac1df546c2022-12-22T02:25:12ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632019-07-0119111210.1186/s12913-019-4258-zDo health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational studySysavanh Phommachanh0Dirk R. Essink1E. Pamela Wright2Jacqueline E. W. Broerse3Mayfong Mayxay4Institute of Research and Education Development, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of HealthAthena Institute and Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamGuelph International Health ConsultingAthena Institute and Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamInstitute of Research and Education Development, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of HealthAbstract Background It is increasingly recognized that improving the quality of maternal health care delivery is of utmost importance in many countries. In Laos, the quality of antenatal care (ANC) service remains inadequate, but it has never been assessed thoroughly. This study aims to determine the ANC quality at the urban and rural public health facilities in Laos and provides suggestions to improve health education and counseling in addition to other routine care in public ANC services. Methods This health-facility based, cross-sectional observation study included both health providers (n = 77) and pregnant women (n = 421) from purposively selected health facilities (n = 16). Information on the mothers’ current pregnancies, previous visits and their last children was collected. The time spent for each ANC session as well as ANC services provided were recorded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze the data. Results Overall performance of ANC services by health care providers was poor in both urban and rural areas. Insufficient provision of information on danger signs during pregnancy, nutrition, breast feeding and iron supplements was revealed. Generally the communication skills, behavior and attitude of health providers were very poor. Less than a quarter of pregnant women were treated with kindness and respect. Only 4% of the observed ANC session took privacy into consideration. Less than 10% of available information materials were used during each ANC session. None of the health providers in both rural and urban areas performed specific counseling. Overall mean (SD) time-spent for each ANC session was 16.21 (4.28) minutes. A positive correlation was identified between the length of working experience of health providers and their physical performance scores (adjusted R square = 0.017). Conclusions The overall performance of ANC services by health care providers was inadequate in both urban and rural areas. Insufficient provision of health education and poor communication skills of health care providers were revealed. Existing IEC materials were scarcely used. Taking action to improve the quality of ANC services by training and providing specific guidelines, creating dedicated rooms, and providing sufficient and effective materials for counseling are all greatly needed in public health facilities in Laos.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4258-zHealth educationCounselingPublic ANC servicesUrban-rural areasLaos |
| spellingShingle | Sysavanh Phommachanh Dirk R. Essink E. Pamela Wright Jacqueline E. W. Broerse Mayfong Mayxay Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study BMC Health Services Research Health education Counseling Public ANC services Urban-rural areas Laos |
| title | Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study |
| title_full | Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study |
| title_fullStr | Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study |
| title_short | Do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante-natal care in Lao PDR?: an observational study |
| title_sort | do health care providers give sufficient information and good counseling during ante natal care in lao pdr an observational study |
| topic | Health education Counseling Public ANC services Urban-rural areas Laos |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4258-z |
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