Enhancing Survival of Mothers and Their Newborns in Tanzania

\ud \ud The main purpose of the present studies was to examine the problem of maternal and perinantal mortality in an upcountry region of a low-income country. This was done by estimating the magnitude of maternal and perinatal mortality, both in the hospital and in the community, through elucidating the underlying causes of maternal and perinatal mortality, and by initiating low-cost interventions and monitoring mechanisms in order to enhance the survival of mothers and their newborns, in Kigoma, Tanzania. To utilize all available evidence to register the causes, contributory factors and real magnitude of maternal in a regional hospital as well as to estimate the magnitude of maternal mortality in the community. To formulate low-cost interventions to address the identified contributing factors to maternal mortality and to follow these interventions over time. To perform regular audits of the causes of maternal mortality in order to elucidate avoidance causes. To monitor and adjust the interventions during the study period, while assessing the impact of these interventions. To investigate the suspected causes of obstetric risk knowledge among community members, health workers, and traditional birth attendants. To assess the utilization of the simple “three phases of delay model” in the audit of maternal and perinatal mortality. A retrospective analysis of mortality in the hospital setting utilizing all available evidence was undertaken for three years, 1984-1987. The magnitude, causes and contributory factors to maternal mortality were examined in the in the hospital setting. This led to the formulation of 22 specific, low –cost interventions, which utilized local resources. These interventions were followed-up for a period of 7years. Monitoring was conducted through monthly audit-oriented meetings. Maternal mortality in the in the community being served by the hospital was assessed utilizing the “sisterhood method”, followed by an assessment of perceptions of obstetric risk among community members, health workers and peripheral staff in order to evaluate factors contributing to futher non-reduction of maternal mortality in the hospital. Finally an assessment utilizing the three phases of delay methodology was conducted focusing on the reduction of maternal and perinatal mortality. There was gross underreporting of martenal death in the official statistics (849 against 350 per 100,000 live births, respectively). Major causes were haemorrhage , obstracted labour , infections and rupture of the uterus. Several other associated factors comprised lack of equipment, drug/blood and issues concerning staff and community distrust of the obstetric unit. The application of the 22 specific interventions saw a progressive reduction in the maternal mortality ratio (from 849 to 275 per 100,000 live birth) after the 7-year period (p<0.001). This was despite an increase in the number admissions to the unit (3,000 to 4,296 respectively). Also the fatality rate for the major causes of death was reduced from 9.2 to 3.1%. However, The community assessment undertaken in 2001 revealed the actual MMR at that time to be 447 (urban) and (rural) per 100,000. The result of the assessment in perceptions of obstetric risk revealed low knowledge among the community, staff and traditional birth attendants and that there was distrust in the health system. A final audit using the “ three phases of delay methodology” revealed that the major causes of perinatal and maternal deaths occurred in the health system. Maternal and perinatal mortality can be reduced through low-cost interventions available in most low-resource settings. Regular audit of maternal and perinatal deaths can be undertaken in the these settings. Low-cost methodology. T o be of value audits must be sustained and used as monitoring mechanisms for service delivery improvements and as managerial tools to reduce maternal and perinatal deaths the “three phases of delay model” is a simple and user-friendly method for the audit of both perinatal and maternal deaths. \u

Causes and Risk Factors for Maternal Mortality in Rural Tanzania - Case of Rufiji Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS)

Complications of childbirth and pregnancy are leading causes of death among women of reproductive age. Developing countries account for 99% of maternal deaths. The aim of this study was to explore levels, causes and risk factors associated with maternal mortality in rural Tanzania. Longitudinal data (2002-2006) from Rufiji HDSS was used where a total of 26 427 women aged 15-49 years were included in the study; 64 died and there were 15 548 live births. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the risk factors associated with maternal deaths. MMR was 412 per 100 000 live births. The main causes of death were haemorrhage (28%), eclampsia (19%) and puerperal sepsis (8%). An increased risk of 154% for maternal death was found for women aged 30-39 versus 15-19 years (HR=2.54, 95% CI=1.001-6.445). Married women had a protective effect of 62% over unmarried ones (HR=0.38, 95% CI=0.176-0.839). (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[3]: 119-130).\u

Equity of Inpatient Health Care in Rural Tanzania:\ud A Population- and Facility-Based Survey

To explore the equity of utilization of inpatient health care at rural Tanzanian health centers through the use of a short wealth questionnaire.Methods: Patients admitted to four rural health centers in the Kigoma Region of Tanzania from May 2008 to May 2009 were surveyed about their illness, asset ownership and demographics. Principal component analysis was used to compare the wealth of the inpatients to the wealth of the region’s general population, using data from a previous population-based survey. Among inpatients, 15.3% were characterized as the most poor, 19.6% were characterized as very poor, 16.5% were characterized as poor, 18.9% were characterized as less poor, and 29.7% were characterized as the least poor. The wealth distribution of all inpatients (p < 0.0001), obstetric inpatients (p < 0.0001), other inpatients (p < 0.0001), and fee-exempt inpatients (p < 0.001) were significantly different than the wealth distribution in the community population, with poorer patients underrepresented among inpatients. The wealth distribution of pediatric inpatients (p = 0.2242) did not significantly differ from the population at large. The findings indicated that while current Tanzanian health financing policies may have improved access to health care for children under five, additional policies are needed to further close the equity gap, especially for obstetric inpatients.\u

Effects of Introducing Routinely Ultrasound Scanning During Ante Natal Care (ANC) Clinics on Number of Visits of ANC and Facility Delivery: A Cohort Study.

Many countries have integrated antenatal care as an essential part of routine maternal health services. The importance of this service cannot be overemphasized as many women's lives are usually saved particularly through early detection of pregnancy related complications. However, while many women would attend at least one visit for ante natal care (ANC), completion of recommended number of visits (4+) has been a challenge of many health systems particularly in developing countries like Tanzania. We conducted a cohort study to include ultrasound scanning using a portable hand-held Vscan to test whether by integrating it in routine ANC clinics at dispensary and health centre levels would promote number of ANC visits by women. Health providers rendering ANC services in selected facilities were trained on how to use the simple technology of ultrasound scanning. Women living in catchment areas of the respective selected facilities were eligible to inclusion to the study when consented. A baseline status of the ANC attendance in the study area was established through baseline household and facility surveys. A total of 257 women consented and received the study treatment. Our results showed that, there was no a slight change between baseline (97.2 %) and endline (97.4 %) results among women attending ANC clinics at least once. However, there was a significant change in percentage of women attending ANC clinic four times or more (27.2 % during baseline and 60.3 %; p = 0001). We conclude that, introduction of the simplified ultrasound scanning technology at lowest levels of care has an effect to improving ANC attendance in terms of number of visits and motivate facility delivery

Missed Opportunities to Improve the Health of Postpartum Women: High Rates of Untreated Hypertension in Rural Tanzania

Objectives To assess the prevalence of high blood pressure amongst postpartum women in rural Tanzania, and to explore factors associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Methods 1849 women in Tanzania’s Pwani Region who delivered a child in the prior year participated in the study. We measured blood pressure, administered a structured questionnaire and assessed factors associated with the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension (HTN) using bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Findings 26.7% of women had high blood pressure and/or were taking antihypertensive medication. Women were on average 27.5 years old (range 15–54). Nearly all women (99.5%) reported contact with the health system during their pregnancy and delivery, with an average of 5.2 visits for their own care in the past year. Only 23.5% of those with HTN were aware of their diagnosis, 17.4% were taking medication, and only 10.5% had controlled blood pressure. In multivariable analysis, facility delivery, health insurance, and increased distance from a hospital were associated with increased likelihood of HTN awareness; facility delivery and hospital distance were associated with current hypertensive treatment; younger age and increased hospital distance were associated with control of HTN. Conclusion The prevalence of high blood pressure in this postpartum population was high, and despite frequent recent contacts with the health system, awareness, treatment and control of HTN were low. These findings highlight an important missed opportunity to improve women’s health during antenatal and postnatal care

Identifying implementation bottlenecks for maternal and newborn health interventions in rural districts of the United Republic of Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate effective coverage of maternal and newborn health interventions and to identify bottlenecks in their implementation in rural districts of the United Republic of Tanzania. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from households and health facilities in Tandahimba and Newala districts were used in the analysis. We adapted Tanahashi's model to estimate intervention coverage in conditional stages and to identify implementation bottlenecks in access, health facility readiness and clinical practice. The interventions studied were syphilis and pre-eclampsia screening, partograph use, active management of the third stage of labour and postpartum care. FINDINGS: Effective coverage was low in both districts, ranging from only 3% for postpartum care in Tandahimba to 49% for active management of the third stage of labour in Newala. In Tandahimba, health facility readiness was the largest bottleneck for most interventions, whereas in Newala, it was access. Clinical practice was another large bottleneck for syphilis screening in both districts. CONCLUSION: The poor effective coverage of maternal and newborn health interventions in rural districts of the United Republic of Tanzania reinforces the need to prioritize health service quality. Access to high-quality local data by decision-makers would assist planning and prioritization. The approach of estimating effective coverage and identifying bottlenecks described here could facilitate progress towards universal health coverage for any area of care and in any context

Equity of inpatient health care in rural Tanzania: a population- and facility-based survey

Abstract Objective To explore the equity of utilization of inpatient health care at rural Tanzanian health centers through the use of a short wealth questionnaire. Methods Patients admitted to four rural health centers in the Kigoma Region of Tanzania from May 2008 to May 2009 were surveyed about their illness, asset ownership and demographics. Principal component analysis was used to compare the wealth of the inpatients to the wealth of the region's general population, using data from a previous population-based survey. Results Among inpatients, 15.3% were characterized as the most poor, 19.6% were characterized as very poor, 16.5% were characterized as poor, 18.9% were characterized as less poor, and 29.7% were characterized as the least poor. The wealth distribution of all inpatients (p < 0.0001), obstetric inpatients (p < 0.0001), other inpatients (p < 0.0001), and fee-exempt inpatients (p < 0.001) were significantly different than the wealth distribution in the community population, with poorer patients underrepresented among inpatients. The wealth distribution of pediatric inpatients (p = 0.2242) did not significantly differ from the population at large. Conclusion The findings indicated that while current Tanzanian health financing policies may have improved access to health care for children under five, additional policies are needed to further close the equity gap, especially for obstetric inpatients.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112633/1/12939_2011_Article_251.pd

What elements of the work environment are most responsible for health worker dissatisfaction in rural primary care clinics in Tanzania?

Background: In countries with high maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, reliable access to quality healthcare in rural areas is essential to save lives. Health workers who are satisfied with their jobs are more likely to remain in rural posts. Understanding what factors influence health workers’ satisfaction can help determine where resources should be focused. Although there is a growing body of research assessing health worker satisfaction in hospitals, less is known about health worker satisfaction in rural, primary health clinics. This study explores the workplace satisfaction of health workers in primary health clinics in rural Tanzania. Methods: Overall, 70 health workers in rural Tanzania participated in a self-administered job satisfaction survey. We calculated mean ratings for 17 aspects of the work environment. We used principal components analysis (PCA) to identify groupings of these variables. We then examined the bivariate associations between health workers demographics and clinic characteristics and each of the satisfaction scales. Results: Results showed that 73.9% of health workers strongly agreed that they were satisfied with their job; however, only 11.6% strongly agreed that they were satisfied with their level of pay and 2.9% with the availability of equipment and supplies. Two categories of factors emerged from the PCA: the tools and infrastructure to provide care, and supportive interpersonal environment. Nurses and medical attendants (compared to clinical officers) and older health workers had higher satisfaction scale ratings. Conclusions: Two dimensions of health workers’ work environment, namely infrastructure and supportive interpersonal work environment, explained much of the variation in satisfaction among rural Tanzanian health workers in primary health clinics. Health workers were generally more satisfied with supportive interpersonal relationships than with the infrastructure. Human resource policies should consider how to improve these two aspects of work as a means for improving health worker morale and potentially rural attrition. Trial registration: (ISRCTN 17107760

Moving Toward Patient-Centered Care in Africa: A Discrete Choice Experiment of Preferences for Delivery Care among 3,003 Tanzanian Women

Objective: In order to develop patient-centered care we need to know what patients want and how changing socio-demographic factors shape their preferences. Methods: We fielded a structured questionnaire that included a discrete choice experiment to investigate women’s preferences for place of delivery care in four rural districts of Pwani Region, Tanzania. The discrete choice experiment consisted of six attributes: kind treatment by the health worker, health worker medical knowledge, modern equipment and medicines, facility privacy, facility cleanliness, and cost of visit. Each woman received eight choice questions. The influence of potential supply- and demand- side factors on patient preferences was evaluated using mixed logit models. Results: 3,003 women participated in the discrete choice experiment (93% response rate) completing 23,947 choice tasks. The greatest predictor of health facility preference was kind treatment by doctor (β = 1.13, p<0.001), followed by having a doctor with excellent medical knowledge (β = 0.89 p<0.001) and modern medical equipment and drugs (β = 0.66 p<0.001). Preferences for all attributes except kindness and cost were changed with changes to education, primiparity, media exposure and distance to nearest hospital. Conclusions: Care quality, both technical and interpersonal, was more important than clinic inputs such as equipment and cleanliness. These results suggest that while basic clinic infrastructure is necessary, it is not sufficient for provision of high quality, patient-centered care. There is an urgent need to build an adequate, competent, and kind health workforce to raise facility delivery and promote patient-centered care