1
|
Muwema M, Nankabirwa JI, Edwards G, Nalwadda G, Nangendo J, Okiring J, Obeng-Amoako GO, Mwanja W, Ekong EN, Kalyango JN, Kaye DK. Perinatal care and its association with perinatal death among women attending care in three district hospitals of western Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:113. [PMID: 38321398 PMCID: PMC10845583 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06305-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Provision of effective care to all women and newborns during the perinatal period is a viable strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. This study examined perinatal care (antenatal, intrapartum, postpartum) and its association with perinatal deaths at three district hospitals in Bunyoro region, Uganda. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in which a questionnaire was administered consecutively to 872 postpartum women before discharge who had attended antenatal care and given birth in the study hospitals. Data on care received during antenatal, labour, delivery, and postpartum period, and perinatal outcome were extracted from medical records of the enrolled postnatal women using a pre-tested structured tool. The care received from antenatal to 24 h postpartum period was assessed against the standard protocol of care established by World Health Organization (WHO). Poisson regression was used to assess the association between care received and perinatal death. RESULTS The mean age of the women was 25 years (standard deviation [SD] 5.95). Few women had their blood tested for hemoglobin levels, HIV, and Syphilis (n = 53, 6.1%); had their urine tested for glucose and proteins (n = 27, 3.1%); undertook an ultrasound scan (n = 262, 30%); and had their maternal status assessed (n = 122, 14%) during antenatal care as well as had their uterus assessed for contraction and bleeding during postpartum care (n = 63, 7.2%). There were 19 perinatal deaths, giving a perinatal mortality rate of 22/1,000 births (95% Confidence interval [CI] 8.1-35.5). Of these 9 (47.4%) were stillbirths while the remaining 10 (52.6%) were early neonatal deaths. In the antenatal phase, only fetal examination was significantly associated with perinatal death (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 0.22, 95% CI 0.1-0.6). No significant association was found between perinatal deaths and care during labour, delivery, and the early postpartum period. CONCLUSION Women did not receive all the required perinatal care during the perinatal period. Perinatal mortality rate in Bunyoro region remains high, although it's lower than the national average. The study shows a reduction in the proportion of perinatal deaths for pregnancies where the mother received fetal monitoring. Strategies focused on strengthened fetal status monitoring such as fetal movement counting methods and fetal heart rate monitoring devices during pregnancy need to be devised to reduce the incidence of perinatal deaths. Findings from the study provide valuable information that would support the strengthening of perinatal care services for improved perinatal outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercy Muwema
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Joaniter I Nankabirwa
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Grace Edwards
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gorrette Nalwadda
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joanita Nangendo
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jaffer Okiring
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gloria Odei Obeng-Amoako
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Elizabeth N Ekong
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda
| | - Joan N Kalyango
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dan K Kaye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zethof S, Christou A, Benova L, Beyuo TK, van Roosmalen J, van den Akker T. Out of sight, out of mind? Evidence from cross-sectional surveys on hidden caesarean sections among women with stillbirths in Ghana, 2007 and 2017. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-011591. [PMID: 37263671 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caesarean section (CS) rates in women experiencing stillbirth have not been studied with nationally representative data. Two Ghana Maternal Health Surveys (GMHS) have captured pregnancy and mode of birth data for all women including those with stillbirths. We compared CS rates between women with live births and stillbirths, and identified socio-economic and pregnancy-related factors associated with CS in stillbirths. METHODS A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a pooled sample of 17 138 women who had given birth within 5 years preceding the 2007 and 2017 GMHS. CS rates were compared between women with stillbirths and very early neonatal deaths (SBVENDs) and women with live births who survived the first day. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions explored variables associated with CS. Effect modification of household's wealth and maternal educational level by birth outcome was assessed using multivariable logistic regression with interaction terms. RESULTS CS rate in women with SBVEND was 19.3% compared with 9.6% in women with live births who survived the first day (rate ratio 2.2; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.9). In multivariable analysis, attaining middle school compared with no formal education (adjusted OR, aOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 7.1), having had five or more births compared with nulliparity (aOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 10.7) and reporting prolonged or obstructed labour (aOR 3.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 8.3) were associated with CS in women with SBVEND. Higher household wealth and educational levels were associated with an increased risk of CS in both study groups, with no statistically significant difference in effect. CONCLUSION Disaggregating CS rates by birth outcome revealed a high rate among women with SBVEND, twice the overall rate compared with live births. Exclusion of these 'hidden' CSs from rate calculations may lead to underestimation of (inter)national CS rates and potentially conceals CS overuse or misuse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siem Zethof
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Aliki Christou
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Lenka Benova
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Titus Kofi Beyuo
- Department of Obstetrics, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Thomas van den Akker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Athena Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dandona R, George S, Majumder M, Akbar M, Kumar GA. Stillbirth undercount in the sample registration system and national family health survey, India. Bull World Health Organ 2023; 101:191-201. [PMID: 36865608 PMCID: PMC9948498 DOI: 10.2471/blt.22.288906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess the extent of under-reporting of stillbirths in India by comparing stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates from two national data sources and to review possible reasons for undercounting of stillbirths. Methods We extracted data on stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates from the annual reports for 2016-2020 of the sample registration system, the Indian government's main source of vital statistics. We compared the data with estimates of stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates from the fifth round of the Indian national family health survey covering events from 2016-2021. We reviewed the questionnaires and manuals from both surveys and compared the sample registration system's verbal autopsy tool with other international tools. Findings The stillbirth rate for India from the national family health survey (9.7 stillbirths per 1000 births; 95% confidence interval: 9.2-10.1) was 2.6 times higher than the average rate reported in the sample registration system over 2016-2020 (3.8 stillbirths per 1000 births). However, neonatal mortality rates in the two data sources were similar. We identified issues with the definition of stillbirth, documentation of gestation period, and categorization of miscarriages and abortions that could result in undercounting stillbirths in the sample registration system. In the national family health survey only one adverse pregnancy outcome is documented, irrespective of the number of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the given period. Conclusion For India to attain its 2030 target of single-digit stillbirth rate and to monitor actions to end preventable stillbirths, efforts are needed to improve the documentation of stillbirths in its data collection systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Dandona
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana 122 002, India Gurugram, India
| | - Sibin George
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana 122 002, India Gurugram, India
| | - Moutushi Majumder
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana 122 002, India Gurugram, India
| | - Mohamed Akbar
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana 122 002, India Gurugram, India
| | - G Anil Kumar
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana 122 002, India Gurugram, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zethof S, Christou A, Benova L, van Roosmalen J, van den Akker T. "Too much, too late": data on stillbirths to improve interpretation of caesarean section rates. Bull World Health Organ 2022; 100:289-291. [PMID: 35386563 PMCID: PMC8958836 DOI: 10.2471/blt.21.287539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Siem Zethof
- Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Aliki Christou
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lenka Benova
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Thomas van den Akker
- Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ameen S, Siddique AB, Peven K, Rahman QSU, Day LT, Shabani J, Kc A, Boggs D, Shamba D, Tahsina T, Rahman AE, Zaman SB, Hossain AT, Ahmed A, Basnet O, Malla H, Ruysen H, Blencowe H, Arnold F, Requejo J, Arifeen SE, Lawn JE. Survey of women's report for 33 maternal and newborn indicators: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:238. [PMID: 33765956 PMCID: PMC7995710 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03425-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population-based household surveys, notably the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), remain the main source of maternal and newborn health data for many low- and middle-income countries. As part of the Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study, this paper focuses on testing validity of measurement of maternal and newborn indicators around the time of birth (intrapartum and postnatal) in survey-report. METHODS EN-BIRTH was an observational study testing the validity of measurement for selected maternal and newborn indicators in five secondary/tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania, conducted from July 2017 to July 2018. We compared women's report at exit survey with the gold standard of direct observation or verification from clinical records for women with vaginal births. Population-level validity was assessed by validity ratios (survey-reported coverage: observer-assessed coverage). Individual-level accuracy was assessed by sensitivity, specificity and percent agreement. We tested indicators already in DHS/MICS as well as indicators with potential to be included in population-based surveys, notably the first validation for small and sick newborn care indicators. RESULTS 33 maternal and newborn indicators were evaluated. Amongst nine indicators already present in DHS/MICS, validity ratios for baby dried or wiped, birthweight measured, low birthweight, and sex of baby (female) were between 0.90-1.10. Instrumental birth, skin-to-skin contact, and early initiation of breastfeeding were highly overestimated by survey-report (2.04-4.83) while umbilical cord care indicators were massively underestimated (0.14-0.22). Amongst 24 indicators not currently in DHS/MICS, two newborn contact indicators (kangaroo mother care 1.00, admission to neonatal unit 1.01) had high survey-reported coverage amongst admitted newborns and high sensitivity. The remaining indicators did not perform well and some had very high "don't know" responses. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed low validity for collecting many maternal and newborn indicators through an exit survey instrument, even with short recall periods among women with vaginal births. Household surveys are already at risk of overload, and some specific clinical care indicators do not perform well and may be under-powered. Given that approximately 80% of births worldwide occur in facilities, routine registers should also be explored to track coverage of key maternal and newborn health interventions, particularly for clinical care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shafiqul Ameen
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Abu Bakkar Siddique
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kimberly Peven
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Qazi Sadeq-Ur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Louise T Day
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Josephine Shabani
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ashish Kc
- International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dorothy Boggs
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Donat Shamba
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Tazeen Tahsina
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sojib Bin Zaman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Aniqa Tasnim Hossain
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anisuddin Ahmed
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Omkar Basnet
- Research Division, Golden Community, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Honey Malla
- Research Division, Golden Community, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Harriet Ruysen
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Fred Arnold
- Demographic and Health Survey Program, ICF, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer Requejo
- Division of Data, Analysis, Planning and Monitoring, United Nations Children's Fund, Headquarters, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shams El Arifeen
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tollman SM, Byass P, Waiswa P, Blencowe H, Yargawa J, Lawn JE. Count Every Newborn: EN-INDEPTH study to improve pregnancy outcome measurement in population-based surveys. Popul Health Metr 2021; 19:5. [PMID: 33557864 PMCID: PMC7868673 DOI: 10.1186/s12963-020-00243-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Tollman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Agincourt, South Africa
- Division of Health and Population, University of the Witwatersrand School of Public Health, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Peter Byass
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Peter Waiswa
- Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
- Centre of Excellence for Maternal Newborn and Child Health Research, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Judith Yargawa
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|