Assessing the quality of record keeping for cesarean deliveries: results from a multicenter retrospective record review in five low-income countries

BACKGROUND: Reliable, timely information is the foundation of decision making for functioning health systems; the quality of decision making rests on quality data. Routine monitoring, reporting, and review of cesarean section (CS) indications, decision-to-delivery intervals, and partograph use are important elements of quality improvement for maternity services. METHODS: In 2009 and 2010, a sample of CS records from calendar year 2008 was reviewed at nine facilities in Bangladesh, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Uganda. Data from patient records and hospital registers were collected on key aspects of care such as timing of key events, indications, partograph use, maternal and fetal outcomes. Qualitative interviews were conducted with key informants at all study sites to provide contextual background about CS services and record keeping practices. RESULTS: A total of 2,941 records were reviewed and 57 key informant interviews were conducted. Patient record-keeping systems were of varying quality across study sites: at five sites, more than 20% of records could not be located. Across all sites, patient files were missing key aspects of CS care: timing of key events (e.g., examination, decision to perform CS), administration of prophylactic antibiotics, maternal complications, and maternal and fetal outcomes. Rates of partograph use were low at six sites: 0 to 23.9% of patient files at these sites had a completed partograph on file, and among those found, 2.1% to 65.1% were completed correctly. Information on fetal outcomes was missing in up to 40% of patient files. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in the quality of CS patient records across a broad range of health facilities in low-resource settings in four sub-Saharan Africa countries and Bangladesh indicate an urgent need to improve record keeping

Current practices in treatment of female genital fistula: a cross sectional study

Abstract Background Maternal outcomes in most countries of the developed world are good. However, in many developing/resource-poor countries, maternal outcomes are bleaker: Every year, more than 500,000 women die in childbirth, mostly in resource-poor countries. Those who survive often suffer from severe and long-term morbidities. One of the most devastating injuries is obstetric fistula, occurring most often in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Fistula treatment and care are available in many countries across Africa and Asia, but there is a lack of reliable data around clinical factors associated with the success of fistula repair surgery. Most published research has been retrospective. While these studies have provided useful information about the care and treatment of fistula, they are limited by the design. This study was designed to identify practices in care that could lead to the design of prospective and randomized controlled trials. Methods Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 40 surgeons known to provide fistula treatment services in Africa and Asia at private and government hospitals. The questionnaire was divided into three parts to address the following issues: prophylactic use of antibiotics before, during, and after fistula surgery; urethral catheter management; and management practices for patients with urinary incontinence following fistula repair. Results The results provide a glimpse into current practices in fistula treatment and care across a wide swath of geographic, economic, and organizational considerations. There is consensus in treatment in some areas (routine use of prophylactic antibiotics, limited bed rest until the catheter is removed, nonsurgical treatment for postsurgical incontinence), while there are wide variations in practice in other areas (duration of catheter use, surgical treatments for postsurgical incontinence). These findings are based on a small sample and do not allow for recommending changes in clinical care, but they point to issues for possible clinical trial research that would contribute to more efficient and effective fistula care. Conclusions The findings from the survey allowed us to consider clinical practices most influential in the cost, efficacy, and safety of fistula treatment. These considerations led us to formulate recommendations for eight randomized controlled trials on the following subjects: 1) Efficacy/safety of short-term catheterization; 2) efficacy of surgical and nonsurgical therapies for urinary incontinence; 3) technical measures during fistula repair to reduce the incidence of post-surgery incontinence; 4) identification of predictive factors for "incurable fistula"; 5) usefulness of urodynamic studies in the management of urinary incontinence; 6) incidence and significance of multi-drug resistant bacteria in the fistula population; 7) primary management of small, new fistulas by catheter drainage; and 8) antibiotic prophylaxis in fistula repair.</p

Good clinical outcomes from a 7-year holistic programme of fistula repair in Guinea

Objectives. Female genital fistula remains a public health concern in developing countries. From January 2007 to September 2013, the Fistula Care project, managed by EngenderHealth in partnership with the Ministry of Health and supported by USAID, integrated fistula repair services in the maternity wards of general hospitals in Guinea. The objective of this article was to present and discuss the clinical outcomes of 7 years of work involving 2116 women repaired in three hospitals across the country. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study using data abstracted from medical records for fistula repairs conducted from 2007 to 2013. The study data were reviewed during the period April to August 2014. Results. The majority of the 2116 women who underwent surgical repair had vesicovaginal fistula (n = 2045, 97%) and 3% had rectovaginal fistula or a combination of both. Overall 1748 (83%) had a closed fistula and were continent of urine immediately after surgery. At discharge, 1795 women (85%) had a closed fistula and 1680 (79%) were dry, meaning they no longer leaked urine and/or faeces. One hundred and fifteen (5%) remained with residual incontinence despite fistula closure. Follow-up at 3 months was completed by 1663 (79%) women of whom 1405 (84.5%) had their fistula closed and 80% were continent. Twenty-one per cent were lost to follow-up. Conclusion. Routine programmatic repair for obstetric fistula in low resources settings can yield good outcomes. However, more efforts are needed to address loss to follow-up, sustain the results and prevent the occurrence and/or recurrence of fistula. Objectifs. La fistule génitale féminine reste un problème de santé publique dans les pays en développement. De janvier 2007 à septembre 2013, le projet Fistula Care, géré par Engender Health en partenariat avec le Ministère de la Santé et soutenu par l’USAID, a intégré les services de réparation de fistules dans les maternités des hôpitaux généraux en Guinée. L'objectif de cet article est de présenter et de discuter les résultats cliniques de sept années de travail impliquant 2116 femmes traitées dans trois hôpitaux à travers le pays. Méthodes. Il s'agit d'une étude de cohorte rétrospective utilisant des données extraites des dossiers médicaux de réparations de fistules menées de 2007 à 2013. Les données de l’étude ont été analysées au cours de la période allant d'avril à août 2014. Résultats. La majorité des 2116 femmes qui ont subi une réparation chirurgicale avaient une fistule vésico vaginale (n = 2 045, 97%) et 3% avaient une fistule recto vaginale ou une combinaison des deux. Au total, 1748 (83%) femmes ont eu leur fistule refermée et sont devenues continentes d'urine immédiatement après la chirurgie. À la sortie, 1795 femmes (85%) avaient une fistule fermée et 1680 (79%) étaient sèches, c'est à dire qu'elles n'avaient plus de fuite d'urine et/ou de matières fécales. 115 (5%) femmes avaient toujours une incontinence résiduelle malgré la fermeture de la fistule. Le suivi à trois mois a été complété par 1663 (79%) femmes dont 1405 (84,5%) ont eu leur fistule fermée et 80% étaient continentes. 21% ont été perdues au suivi. Conclusion. La réparation programmatique de routine de la fistule obstétricale dans les régions à faibles ressources peut donner de bons résultats. Toutefois, davantage d'efforts sont nécessaires pour remédier à la perte au suivi, maintenir les résultats et prévenir l'apparition et/ou la réapparition de fistules. Objetivos. La fístula genital femenina continúa siendo una preocupación de salud pública en países en vías de desarrollo. Entre Enero 2007 y Septiembre 2013, el proyecto Fistula Care, manejado por EngenderHealth junto con el Ministerio de Salud de Guinea, y financiado por USAID, integró los servicios de reparación de fistula en las maternidades de hospitales generales en Guinea. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar y discutir los resultados clínicos de 7 años de trabajo con 2116 mujeres intervenidas en tres hospitales del país. Métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de cohortes utilizando datos tomados de historias clínicas de reparaciones de fístula realizadas entre el 2007 y el 2013. Los datos del estudio se revisaron durante el periodo entre Abril y Agosto 2014. Resultados. La mayoría de las 2116 mujeres que se sometieron a la reparación quirúrgica tenían una fistula vesico-vaginal (n = 2045, 97%) y 3% tenían una fístula recto-vaginal o una combinación de ambas. En general, 1748 (83%) tenían la fístula cerrada y eran continentes inmediatamente después de la cirugía. En el momento del alta, 1795 mujeres (85%) tenían la fistula cerrada y 1680 (79%) estaban secas, es decir que ya no perdían orina y/o heces. 115 (5%) continuaron teniendo incontinencia residual a pesar de que la fistula estaba cerrada. El seguimiento a los tres meses se completó para 1663 (79%) mujeres, de las cuales 1405 (84.5%) tenían la fistula cerrada y 80% eran continentes. Un 21% fueron perdidas durante el seguimiento. Conclusión. La reparación rutinaria programada de la fístula obstétrica en lugares con pocos recursos puede dar buenos resultados. Sin embargo, se requieren más esfuerzos para resolver la pérdida durante el seguimiento, mantener los resultados y prevenir la aparición y/o reaparición de la fístula

Non-inferiority of short-term urethral catheterization following fistula repair surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A vaginal fistula is a devastating condition, affecting an estimated 2 million girls and women across Africa and Asia. There are numerous challenges associated with providing fistula repair services in developing countries, including limited availability of operating rooms, equipment, surgeons with specialized skills, and funding from local or international donors to support surgeries and subsequent post-operative care. Finding ways of providing services in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, without compromising surgical outcomes and the overall health of the patient, is paramount. Shortening the duration of urethral catheterization following fistula repair surgery would increase treatment capacity, lower costs of services, and potentially lower risk of healthcare-associated infections among fistula patients. There is a lack of empirical evidence supporting any particular length of time for urethral catheterization following fistula repair surgery. This study will examine whether short-term (7 day) urethral catheterization is not worse by more than a minimal relevant difference to longer-term (14 day) urethral catheterization in terms of incidence of fistula repair breakdown among women with simple fistula presenting at study sites for fistula repair service.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This study is a facility-based, multicenter, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the new proposed short-term (7 day) urethral catheterization to longer-term (14 day) urethral catheterization in terms of predicting fistula repair breakdown. The primary outcome is fistula repair breakdown up to three months following fistula repair surgery as assessed by a urinary dye test. Secondary outcomes will include repair breakdown one week following catheter removal, intermittent catheterization due to urinary retention and the occurrence of septic or febrile episodes, prolonged hospitalization for medical reasons, catheter blockage, and self-reported residual incontinence. This trial will be conducted among 512 women with simple fistula presenting at 8 study sites for fistula repair surgery over the course of 24 months at each site.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>If no major safety issues are identified, the data from this trial may facilitate adoption of short-term urethral catheterization following repair of simple fistula in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01428830">NCT01428830</a>.</p