2 research outputs found
Perspectives of stakeholders regarding the value of maternal and newborn health interventions and practices supported by UNICEF and other partners in the West Nile region of Uganda : a qualitative study
AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS : The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not
publicly available because it was a qualitative study but are available from the
corresponding author on reasonable request.INTRODUCTION : Uganda has high maternal, neonatal, and under-five mortality rates. This study documents stakeholder
perspectives on best practices in a maternal and newborn health (MNH) quality-improvement programme implemented
in the West Nile region of Uganda to improve delivery and utilisation of MNH services.
METHODS : This exploratory cross-sectional qualitative study, conducted at the end of 2021, captured the perspectives
of stakeholders representing the different levels of the healthcare system. Data were collected in four districts
through: interviews with key informants working at all levels of the health system; focus group discussions with parents
and caretakers and with community health workers; and interviews with individual community members whose
lives had been impacted by the MNH programme. The initial content analysis was followed by a deductive synthesis
pitched according to the different levels of the health system and the health-systems building blocks.
RESULTS : The findings are summarised according to the health-systems building blocks and an account is given of
three of the interventions most valued by participants: (1) data use for evidence-based decision making (with regard
to human resources, essential reproductive health commodities, and financing); (2) establishment of special newborn
care units and high-dependency maternity units at district hospitals and training of the health workforce (also with
reference to other infrastructural improvements such as the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at
health facilities); and (3) community referral of pregnant women through a commercial motorcycle voucher referral
system.
CONCLUSION : The MNH programme in the West Nile region adopted a holistic and system-wide approach to addressing
the key bottlenecks in the planning, delivery, and monitoring of quality MNH services. There was general stakeholder
appreciation across the board that the interventions had the potential to improve quality of care and newborn and maternal health outcomes. However, as the funding was largely donor-driven, questions about government
ownership and sustainability in the context of limited resources remain.UNICEF Uganda.https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.comam2024Paediatrics and Child HealthSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein
Perspectives of stakeholders regarding the value of maternal and newborn health interventions and practices supported by UNICEF and other partners in the West Nile region of Uganda: a qualitative study
Abstract Introduction Uganda has high maternal, neonatal, and under-five mortality rates. This study documents stakeholder perspectives on best practices in a maternal and newborn health (MNH) quality-improvement programme implemented in the West Nile region of Uganda to improve delivery and utilisation of MNH services. Methods This exploratory cross-sectional qualitative study, conducted at the end of 2021, captured the perspectives of stakeholders representing the different levels of the healthcare system. Data were collected in four districts through: interviews with key informants working at all levels of the health system; focus group discussions with parents and caretakers and with community health workers; and interviews with individual community members whose lives had been impacted by the MNH programme. The initial content analysis was followed by a deductive synthesis pitched according to the different levels of the health system and the health-systems building blocks. Results The findings are summarised according to the health-systems building blocks and an account is given of three of the interventions most valued by participants: (1) data use for evidence-based decision making (with regard to human resources, essential reproductive health commodities, and financing); (2) establishment of special newborn care units and high-dependency maternity units at district hospitals and training of the health workforce (also with reference to other infrastructural improvements such as the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at health facilities); and (3) community referral of pregnant women through a commercial motorcycle voucher referral system. Conclusion The MNH programme in the West Nile region adopted a holistic and system-wide approach to addressing the key bottlenecks in the planning, delivery, and monitoring of quality MNH services. There was general stakeholder appreciation across the board that the interventions had the potential to improve quality of care and newborn and maternal health outcomes. However, as the funding was largely donor-driven, questions about government ownership and sustainability in the context of limited resources remain