TITLE:
Quality of Intrapartum Care: Direct Observations in Selected Health Facilities in Zambia
AUTHORS:
Concepta N. Kwaleyela, Brenda Nambala Sianchapa, Patricia Katowa-Mukwato, Yolan Banda, Emmanuel Mwila Musenge, Victoria Mwiinga-Kalusopa, Fabian Chapima, Jeane Ngala Banda, Besia Phiri, Margaret Connie Maimbolwa
KEYWORDS:
Intrapartum Care, Quality, Health Facility, Midwife, Women
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
5,
2020
ABSTRACT: Approximately 303,000 women die annually while giving birth, worldwide,
and more than 99% of the deaths occur in developing countries. In Zambia, a
developing country situated in sub-Saharan Africa, most of the maternal
mortalities occur during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods,
arising from postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, obstructed labor, and hypertensive
disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of
intrapartum services provided in health facilities in the country. Methodology: Guided by a descriptive cross sectional design, data were collected from 264 women in labor using a World Health
Organization validated observation checklist. Convenience sampling was used to
recruit the women, while multistage sampling was used to select four health
facilities. The Social Package for Social Sciences, version 23 was used to
analyze the data. Results: One health facility met the World Health
Organization 80% minimum standard in four out of the five categories used to
measure quality in intrapartum care, while the other three met the minimum
standard in one category each. Conclusion: Low numbers of midwives,
inadequate supplies and equipment were
major obstacles to following national and international agreed standards for
providing optimal care during intrapartum period. Recommendations: There is need for local and national stakeholders in Zambia to urgently address the
structural barriers that were observed, as well as invest in sufficient numbers
of adequately trained and motivated midwives.