Readiness of health facilities to provide emergency obstetric care in Papua New Guinea: evidence from a cross-sectional survey

Hou, Xiaohui, Khan, M Mahmud, Pulford, Justin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4756-8480 and Saweri, Olga P M (2022) 'Readiness of health facilities to provide emergency obstetric care in Papua New Guinea: evidence from a cross-sectional survey'. BMJ Open, Vol 12, Issue 2, e050150.

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Abstract

Objective: To measure the readiness of health facilities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide obstetric care and other maternal health services.
Design: Cross-sectional study involving random sample of health centres, district/rural hospitals (levels 3 and 4 facilities) and all upper-level hospitals operational at the time of survey. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from health facilities. Setting: Health facilities in PNG. Facility administrators and other facility personnel were interviewed. Number of facility personnel interviewed was usually one for health centres and two or more for hospitals. Participants: 19 upper-level facilities (levels 5–7, provincial, regional and national hospitals) and 60 lower-level facilities (levels 3 and 4, health centres and district/rural hospitals). Outcome measures: Four service-types were used to understand readiness of surveyed health facilities in the provision of maternity care including obstetric care services: (1) facility readiness to provide clinical services; (2) availability of family planning items; (3) availability of maternal and neonatal equipment and materials; and (4) ability to provide emergency obstetric care (EmOC).
Results: 56% of lower-level facilities were not able to provide basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC). Even among higher-level facilities, 16% were not able to perform one or more of the functions required to be considered a BEmOC provider. 11% of level 3 and 4 health facilities were able to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) as compared with 83% of higher-level facilities. Conclusion: Given the high fertility rate and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in PNG, lack of BEmOC at the first level inpatient service providers is a major concern. To improve access to EmOC, level 3 and 4 facilities should be upgraded to at least BEmOC providers. Significant reduction in MMR will require improved access to CEmOC and optimal geographic location approach can identify facilities to be upgraded.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 310 Maternal welfare WQ Obstetrics > WQ 20 Research (General) WQ Obstetrics > Labor > WQ 330 Complications of labor WQ Obstetrics > Obstetric Surgical Procedures > WQ 400 General works
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050150
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2022 12:32
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2022 12:32
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/19997

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