Quality Improvement of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Selected Healthcare Facilities at Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Improving the quality of Emergency Obstetric and newborn care in health facilities is crucial to the survival of mothers and their babies, but across the world about 60-80 cases of maternal mortality were as a result of preventable diseases; bleeding, obstructed labour, hypertension complication in pregnancy and complications of unsafe abortion. About ninety-nine per cent of avoidable maternal deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries the maternal mortality ratio is 240 per 100000 births whilst in high-income countries maternal mortality ratio is 16 per births. Method: The study used a cross-sectional design that used quantitative method (checklist, assessment tool, and structured questionnaire) to gather data from record reviewing, healthcare providers and observing the healthcare facilities. A simple random sampling technique with proportional allocation done for the selection of about 271 records of pregnant women who had complications in the three selected healthcare facilities. The sample frame used was gotten from records on all obstetric complications in the healthcare facilities. Specific Objectives: The specific objectives were to identify the obstetric complications presented at the selected healthcare facilities, determine the obstetric complications presented within the agegroups in the selected healthcare facilities and assess the emergency obstetric drugs, equipment, supplies and cadre of health workers available for the provision of EmOC services. Results: St. Martins Catholic Hospital had about 38.81%, Akuse Government Hospital had 32.84% and Atua Government Hospital had 28.36% of healthcare workers providing EmONC services. Obstetric complications in the three healthcare facilities were; Fetal Distress (18.08%), Previous C/S in Labour (13.28%) Pre-eclampsia & Eclampsia (8.12%), Cephalopelvic Disproportion (6.64%), Breech Presentation in Labour (6.64%). Only one facility had Ergometrine available and none of the 3 selected healthcare facilities had Infant Laryngoscope with spare bulb and batteries. Conclusion: The study concludes that the three selected healthcare facilities provided both basic and comprehensive EmOC services and had qualified healthcare workers who provided these services for twenty-four hours in a day and Seven days in a week.