Review of Causes of Maternal Deaths in Botswana in 2010

Background. In Botswana the maternal mortality ratio in 2010 was 163 per 100 000 live births. It is a priority to reduce this ratio to meet Millennium Development Goal 5 target of 21 per 100 000 live births. Objective. To investigate the underlying circumstances of maternal deaths in Botswana. Method. Fifty-six case notes from the 80 reported maternal deaths in 2010 were reviewed. Five clinicians reviewed each case independently and then together to achieve a consensus on diagnosis and underlying cause(s) of death. Results. Sixty-six percent of deaths occurred in Botswana’s two referral hospitals. Cases in which death had direct obstetric causes were fewer than cases in which cause of death was indirect. The main direct causes were haemorrhage (39%), hypertension (22%), and pregnancy-related sepsis (13%). Thirty-six (64%) deaths were in HIV-positive women, of whom 21 (58%) were receiving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Nineteen (34%) deaths were attributable to HIV, including 4 from complications of ARVs. Twenty-nine (52%) deaths were in the postnatal period, 19 (66%) of these in the first week. Case-note review revealed several opportunities for improved quality of care: better teamwork, communication and supportive supervision of health professionals; earlier recognition of the seriousness of complication(s) with more aggressive case-management; joint management between HIV and obstetric clinicians; screening for, and treatment of, opportunistic infections throughout the antenatal to postnatal periods; and better supply management of medications, fluids, blood for transfusion and laboratory tests. Conclusion. Integrating HIV management into maternal healthcare is essential to reduce maternal deaths in the region, alongside greater efforts to improve quality of care to avoid direct and indirect causes of death

Integration of family planning services into health care for HIV‐positive women in Botswana

Objective: To create and assess a clinic model to address the unmet need for effective contraception among women living with HIV in Botswana, where half of all pregnancies are unintended and 30% of women of reproductive age are living with HIV. Methods: We introduced family planning services into an HIV clinic in Gaborone, Botswana. Our intervention gave HIV providers brief training on contraceptive counseling plus the option of immediate referral of interested patients to an on-site contraception provider. We administered a survey to patients and providers before and after intervention. Patients were female, aged 18–45 years and using antiretrovirals. Results: At baseline, 6% of 141 patients discussed contraception with their HIV-care provider, compared with 61% of 107 post intervention (P < 0.001). At baseline, 6% of patients reported wanting to use long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Post intervention, 45% of patients chose to meet with the contraception provider, and 29% wanted to use LARC (P < 0.001 versus baseline). All providers strongly agreed that they were better informed about contraception post intervention and were satisfied with their ability to counsel and refer women for contraception. Conclusions: Provision of on-site contraceptive services in this HIV clinic encouraged family planning discussions and increased interest in LARC. K E YWORDS Botswana, contraception, family planning, HIV, service integratio