Quality of neonatal healthcare in Kilimanjaro region, northeast Tanzania: learning from mothers' experiences

Measuring experience of and satisfaction with newborn care: a scoping review of tools and measures

BACKGROUND

Standardised measures on experience of care are essential to understanding the care women and newborns receive and to designing appropriate interventions and responses. This review builds on ongoing work in the realm of maternity care and complements it by reviewing existing tools and measures to assess experience of and satisfaction with the care of the newborn.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of published literature to identify measures and tools of experience (physiological or indirect) and satisfaction with newborn care. We systematically searched five bibliographic databases from 1 January 2010 through 1 December 2022 and contacted professional networks. Using a predefined evidence template, we extracted data on the studies and the tools' characteristics. We mapped the tools and measures against the WHO quality of care frameworks to identify the most frequent measured domains of care and to highlight existing gaps.

RESULT

We identified 18 292 records of which 72 were eligible. An innovative finding of this review is the inclusion of newborn perspectives through behavioural responses, physiological signals, pain profiles as well as other non-verbal cues as markers of newborn experience. Domains related to parental participation and decision-making, ensuring continuity of care and receiving coordinated care, were the most measured across the included tools.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive and validated instruments measuring all aspects of care are needed. Developing a robust theoretical ground will be fundamental to the design and utilisation of standardised tools and measures.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION DETAILS

This review was registered and published on protocol.io (dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bvk7n4zn).

Critical Interpretive Synthesis of Qualitative Data on the Health Care Ecosystem for Vulnerable Newborns in Low- to Middle-Income Countries

OBJECTIVE

To critically assess and synthesize qualitative findings regarding the health care ecosystem for vulnerable (low-birth-weight or sick) neonates in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs).

DATA SOURCES

Between May 4 and June 2, 2020, we searched four databases (Medline [PubMed], SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for articles published from 2010 to 2020. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed reports of original studies focused on the health care ecosystem for vulnerable neonates in LMICs. We also searched the websites of several international development agencies and included findings from primary data collected between May and July 2019 at a tertiary hospital in Kenya. We excluded studies and reports if the focus was on healthy neonates or high-income countries and if they contained only quantitative data, were written in a language other than English, or were published before 2010.

STUDY SELECTION

One of the primary authors conducted an initial review of titles and abstracts (n = 102) and excluded studies that were not consistent with the purpose of the review (n = 60). The two primary authors used a qualitative appraisal checklist to assess the validity of the remaining studies (n = 42) and reached agreement on the final 13 articles.

DATA EXTRACTION

The two primary authors independently conducted open and axial coding of the data. We incorporated data from studies with different units of analysis, types of methodology, research topics, participant types, and analytical frameworks in an emergent conceptual development process according to the critical interpretive synthesis methodology.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We synthesized our findings into one overarching theme, Pervasive Turbulence Is a Defining Characteristic of the Health Care Ecosystem in LMICs, and two subthemes: Pervasive Turbulence May Cause Tension Between the Setting and the Caregiver and Pervasive Turbulence May Result in a Loss of Synergy in the Caregiver-Parent Relationship.

CONCLUSION

Because pervasive turbulence characterizes the health care ecosystems in LMICs, interventions are needed to support the caregiver-parent interaction to mitigate the effects of tension in the setting.

Challenges regarding the control of environmental sources of contamination in healthcare settings in low-and middle-income countries - a narrative review

Background

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) especially outbreaks of multi-drug-resistant organisms within hospitals are recognized as a major contributor to morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients. The healthcare environment can act as an amplifier of HAI during outbreaks. The risk of acquiring HAI are 20 times higher in Low-and-middle-income countries.

The purpose of this article is to review the challenges associated with controlling environmental contamination in low and lower-middle income countries (LMIC), highlighting possible solutions.

Method

This is a narrative review. A literature search was carried out in Google scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCOHOST, CENGAGE, Scopus, ProQuest, Clinical Key and African journals online using the key words - Health care Associated Infections (HCAIs) in LMICs, Challenges of HAIs in LMIC, Challenges of Prevention and Control of HAIs in LMICs, Environment of care and infection transmission, Contaminated environment and HAIs.

Results

From the accessed databases, 1872 articles related to environmental sources of contamination in healthcare settings were found. Of these, only 530 articles focused on LMICs. However, only 186 articles met the inclusion criteria studies published in English, conducted between 2000 and 2019 and exploring environmental sources of contamination in LMIC healthcare settings). The sources of environmental contamination in healthcare are numerous and commonly associated with poor governance, Inadequate infrastructure, human capacity and inadequate funding. Low awareness exists at all levels as to the role of the environment in healthcare outcomes and may explain in part the low priority given for funding.

Conclusion

Leadership and trained personnel, both Infection prevention and control practitioners and cleaners are crucial to drive and sustain the process to reduce environmental contamination in healthcare environments.

[“Forgetting” the newborn: An anthropological analysis in Mauritania]

INTRODUCTION

In Mauritania, as in other West African countries, a series of actions has been taken to combat neonatal mortality. Considering the mixed success of these programs, we wondered how health workers are investing in neonatal care.

METHOD

An anthropological study was carried out in a locality in the Senegal River Valley. The surveys consisted of an ethnography of a health center, which resulted in detailed observations of care and interviews with health workers.

RESULTS

Our observations reveal that in the crucial minutes and hours following a normal birth, the attention of caregivers tends to turn away from the newborn. Recommended care such as keeping warm, examining and monitoring the newborn is not provided, while early breast-feeding occurs in a fluctuating manner. The newborn is quickly handed over to the family. Newborn care is thus "forgotten", both in the sequence of actions around childbirth and in the collective distribution of professional responsibilities.

DISCUSSION

Newborn care at birth remains poorly medicalized. We analyze the least involvement of health workers with newborns in two aspects : the perception of the uncertainty of neonatal survival, and the predominance of local childbearing. We are making proposals to put the spotlight back on the newborn in order to promote a better quality of neonatal care.

'I am still confused as to what caused the problem': Perceptions of mothers on communication regarding newborn illness and death in Northern Ghana

Neonatal morbidity and mortality remain a significant challenge in Ghana. Given the relationship between care-seeking and understanding of illness, this study aimed to explore mothers' perceptions of the cause of illness and/or death in Northern Ghana. All neonatal deaths and near-misses (babies who survived a life-threatening complication) in 2015 and 2016 were identified through a community - and facility-based surveillance system. Mothers of the deceased or ill infants participated in open narrative qualitative interviews. Narratives that included discussion of whether the mother understood what caused the baby's illness or death were analysed. Interviews with 155 mothers included discussion of their perception of the cause of newborn illness or death. Of the 155 interviews, 108 interviews involved mothers whose babies died, and 47 interviews involved mothers whose newborns survived a life-threatening illness, a neonatal 'near-miss'. Very few expressed a clear understanding of the cause of death or illness. Those mothers who did not understand were either not told or did not understand the cause of illness or death. Newborn health outcomes may be improved by increased maternal awareness and understanding of neonatal illnesses. Future interventions need to address communication issues that impair mothers' understanding, facilitate recognition of danger signs, and prompt timely care-seeking.

Exploring maternal postnatal newborn care postnatal discharge education in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Barriers, facilitators and opportunities

BACKGROUND

Previous studies in Tanzania have shown that mothers do not often receive the recommended number of postnatal contacts, which limits their ability to not only have health checks but also to be provided with sufficient and quality postnatal education. Educating mothers while in the hospital is important yet there remains a paucity on the experiences of mothers in a hospital setting related to newborn care education. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the experience of newborn care discharge education at a national hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from the perspective of mothers and nurse midwives.

METHODS

Using convenience sampling, participants were recruited from Muhimbili National Hospital. Eight mothers who recently gave birth and eight nurse midwives working on the postnatal and labour ward participated. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in Swahili and transcribed and translated into English. Interviews were analyzed using thematic coding.

RESULTS

Most mothers were multiparous (75%) and averaged 29.6 years of age (SD = 5.1). Nurse midwives had an average of 10 years of experience (SD = 7.5). The primary themes identified included barriers, facilitators, and opportunities related to newborn care discharge education. Barriers included lack of standard postnatal education guidelines; community norms against hospital teaching; gaps in hospital care; and expectations of mothers' previous knowledge. Facilitators identified were that education was already being provided on some relevant newborn care topics; nurse midwives desired to teach; and mothers desired to learn and build on their previous knowledge and confidence. Opportunities to improve included developing standardized guidelines related to postnatal discharge education; training nurses how to engage mothers and families; and engaging mothers through varied learning methods.

CONCLUSION

While mothers received some education prior to discharge and nurses expressed a desire to teach, challenges remained in receiving sufficient education on all recommended postnatal education topics. Opportunity to improve postnatal education can be addressed through the development of standardized education and engaging mothers through preferred learning methods.

What is the impact of water sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities on care seeking behaviour and patient satisfaction? A systematic review of the evidence from low-income and middle-income countries

Patient satisfaction with healthcare has clear implications on service use and health outcomes. Barriers to care seeking are complex and multiple and delays in seeking care are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess the relationship between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) provision in healthcare facilities (HCF) and patient satisfaction/care seeking behaviour in low-income and middle-income countries. Pubmed and Medline Ovid were searched using a combination of search terms. 984 papers were retrieved and only 21 had a WASH component warranting inclusion. WASH was not identified as a driver of patient satisfaction but poor WASH provision was associated with significant patient dissatisfaction with infrastructure and quality of care. However, this dissatisfaction was not sufficient to stop patients from seeking care in these poorly served facilities. With specific regard to maternal health services, poor WASH provision was the reason for women choosing home delivery, although providers' attitudes and interpersonal behaviours were the main drivers of patient dissatisfaction with maternal health services. Patient satisfaction was mainly assessed via questionnaires and studies reported a high risk of courtesy bias, potentially leading to an overestimation of patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was also found to be significantly affected by expectation, which was strongly influenced by patients' socioeconomic status and education. This systematic review also highlighted a paucity of research to describe and evaluate interventions to improve WASH conditions in HCF in low-income setting with a high burden of healthcare-associated infections. Our review suggests that improving WASH conditions will decrease patience dissatisfaction, which may increase care seeking behaviour and improve health outcomes but that more rigorous research is needed.

Learning from health care workers' opinions for improving quality of neonatal health care in kilimanjaro region, northeast Tanzania

BACKGROUND

There is a higher neonatal mortality rate while the adherence to the existing guidelines is rarely studied in Tanzania.

AIM

The aim of this study is to assess the performance of health workers for neonatal health-care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Settings - Peripheral health facilities (regional referral, district hospitals and health centers) and a tertiary referral hospital of Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Fourteen hospital facilities within all seven districts of the Kilimanjaro region wer involved in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected for 5 months from 26(th) November, 2010 to 25(th) April, 2011. We analyzed our quantitative data by using STATA v10 (StataCorp, TX, USA) for statistical comparison using Chi-square test to test the difference between the categories and odds ratio (OR) for association between independent and dependent variables.

RESULTS

Birth asphyxia was the most recalled health problem requiring critical care, reported by 27.5% (33/120) of health-care workers (HCWs) at peripheral hospitals and at 46.4% (13/28) in a tertiary referral centers. Majority of HCWs commented on their own performance 47.5% (67/140). In the periphery (40), first comment was on management and follow-up of neonatal cases 47.5% (19/40), second on a need of skills 45% (18/40) and third on timely referrals 7.5% (18/40). Shortage of proper equipment was reported at 26.4% (37/140), shortage of staff was reported at 12.0% (17/140), lack of organization of care 11.4% (16/140) and poor hygiene at 2.9% (4/140). It was hard to judge the impact of training on the sufficiency of knowledge (OR: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: [0.9 - 4.8]; P = 0.08) although levels of knowledge for critical neonatal care were higher at the tertiary referral hospital (Pearson χ(2) [2] = 53.8; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Performance of HCWs in early neonatal care is suboptimal and requires frequent systematic evaluation.