Challenges to the Provision of Emergency Obstetric Care in Iraq

Ameh, Charles ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2341-7605, Bishop, Sophie, Kongnyuy, Eugene J, Grady, Kate and Van Den Broek, Nynke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8523-2684 (2011) 'Challenges to the Provision of Emergency Obstetric Care in Iraq'. Maternal and Child Health Journal, Vol 15, Issue 1, pp. 4-11.

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Abstract

To assess the availability of, and challenges to the provision of emergency obstetric care in order to raise
awareness and assist policy-makers and development partners in making appropriate decisions to help pregnant women in Iraq. Descriptive and exploratory study based on self administered questionnaires, an in-depth interview and a Focus Group Discussion. The setting was 19 major hospitals in 8 out of the 18 Governorates and the participants were 31 Iraqi doctors and 1 midwife. The outcome measures were availability of emergency obstetric care (EOC) in hospitals and challenges to the provision of EOC. Only 26.3% (5/19) of hospitals had been able to provide all the 8 signal functions of comprehensive emergency obstetric care in the previous 3 months. All the 19 hospitals provided parenteral antibiotics and uterine evacuation, 94.7% (18/19) were able to provide parenteral oxytocics and perform manual removal of retained placenta, magnesium sulphate for eclampsia was available in 47.4% (9/19) of hospitals, 42.1% (8/19) provided assisted vaginal delivery, 26.5% (5/19) provided blood transfusion and 89.5% (17/19) offered Caesarean section. The identified challenges for health care providers include difficulties travelling to work due to frequent checkpoints and insecurity, high level of insecurity for patients referred or admitted to hospitals, inadequate staffing due mainly to external migration and premature deaths as a result of the war, lack of drugs, supplies and equipment (including blood for transfusion), and falling standards of training and regulation.Most women and their families do not currently have access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care. Health care providers recommend reconstruction and strengthening of all components of the Iraqi health system which may only be achieved if security returns to the country.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Emergency Obstetric Care, Medical training, Iraq health system
Subjects:	W General Medicine. Health Professions > Health Services. Patients and Patient Advocacy > W 84 Health services. Delivery of health care WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 310 Maternal welfare WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 525 General works WQ Obstetrics > Obstetric Surgical Procedures > WQ 400 General works WX Hospitals and Other Health Facilities > Clinical Departments and Units > WX 200 General works
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0545-3
Depositing User:	Users 19 not found.
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2012 16:16
Last Modified:	25 Jan 2022 09:29
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2384

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