The Availability of Emergency Obstetric Care in Birthing Centres in Rural Nepal: A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this health system's study is to assess the availability of Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) services in birthing centres in Taplejung District of eastern Nepal. METHODS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2018 in all 16 public health facilities providing delivery services in the district. Data collection comprised: (1) quantitative data collected from health workers; (2) observation of key items; and (3) record data extracted from the health facility register. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate readiness scores using unweighted averages. RESULTS:Although key health personnel were available, EmOC services at the health facilities assessed were below the minimum coverage level recommended by the World Health Organisation. Only the district hospital provided the nine signal functions of Comprehensive EmOC. The other fifteen had only partially functioning Basic EmOC facilities, as they did not provide all of the seven signal functions. The essential equipment for performing certain EmOC functions was either missing or not functional in these health facilities. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE:The Ministry of Health and Population and the federal government need to ensure that the full range of signal functions are available for safe deliveries in partially functioning EmOC health facilities by addressing the issues related to training, equipment, medicine, commodities and policy. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in 'Maternal and Child Health Journal'. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02832-2. The following terms of use apply: https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/publication-policies/aam-terms-of-use. Deposited by shareyourpaper.org and openaccessbutton.org. We've taken reasonable steps to ensure this content doesn't violate copyright. However, if you think it does you can request a takedown by emailing help@openaccessbutton.org.