BMJ public health
Health facility readiness to provide quality emergency obstetric and newborn care in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional study
By Turigye B, Macharia PM, Mulogo EM and 3 others.
Abstract
Introduction
Despite efforts to improve maternal and newborn care services, maternal and newborn mortality in Uganda remains high. Over half of births occur in lower-level health facilities, where limited readiness and suboptimal quality of care may hinder the provision of emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC). This study aimed to assess health facility readiness to provide quality EmONC in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts, midwestern Uganda.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in all 42 district-level public health facilities (health centre (HC) IIIs, HC IVs and general hospitals) offering childbirth services in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts. We used a facility assessment questionnaire based on the WHO's Service Availability and Readiness Assessment and the Averting Maternal Death and Disability tool. Composite readiness scores were calculated across five domains (human resources, physical resources, referral, equipment and drugs and supplies) and signal functions by health facility level. HCIII facilities were considered Basic EmONC (BEmONC), while HC IVs and general hospitals were considered comprehensive EmONC (CEmONC) facilities.