African journal of reproductive health
-
Afr J Reprod Health · Jun 2009
Audit of referral of obstetric emergencies in Angola: a tool for assessing quality of care.
By auditing various aspects of referrals of obstetric emergencies, we wanted to study the effectiveness over time of a recently established network of peripheral birth units and two central hospitals in Luanda. 157 women referred for obstetric emergencies were studied regarding clinical outcome and process indicators like waiting time, partogramme quality and Caesarean section rate (CSR). After a change in routines at hospital admission and further partogramme education 92 referred women were compared with the former. Maternal mortality decreased from 17.8% to nil in the second. ⋯ CSR increased from 13 to 30%. Prolonged labour was the most common diagnosis. This study demonstrates the importance of clinic-based audit to enhance quality of care regarding referrals of patients with obstetric emergencies.
-
Afr J Reprod Health · Apr 1998
Severe obstetric morbidity of the third trimester, delivery and early puerperium in Niamey (Niger).
Epidemiological data about maternal morbidity are rare. The present study, carried out in Niamey, capital of Niger, was designed to measure the incidence of maternal morbidity among women delivering in hospital. ⋯ Incidence rates of the major morbidities (per 100,000 live births) were: obstructed labour 3,614, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 1,159, haemorrhage 855, and puerperal sepsis 220. The incidence and case fatality rates of severe complications were both high, suggesting a lack of efficiency of maternal health services in spite of a high concentration of health personnel and a large accessibility to services in Niamey.