| 1. |
- Abdillahi, Hamda A, et al.
(author)
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A mixed-methods study of maternal near miss and death after emergency cesarean delivery at a referral hospital in Somaliland
- 2017
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In: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0020-7292 .- 1879-3479. ; 138:1, s. 119-124
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To explore maternal near miss and death after emergency cesarean delivery in Somaliland, including the impact of the prerequisite for family consent.METHODS: A facility-based, mixed-methods study was conducted to assess all maternal near misses and deaths recorded at a referral hospital that provided services to women from all regions of Somaliland. The data sources comprised a quantitative prospective cross-sectional study using the WHO near-miss tool (performed from August 1 to December 31, 2015) and qualitative interviews with 17 healthcare providers working at the referral hospital who were in direct contact with the women in labor (performed from January 15 to March 15, 2015).RESULTS: Of the 138 maternal near misses and deaths recorded, 50 (36%) were associated with emergency cesarean delivery. The most frequent maternal complication was severe pre-eclampsia (n=17; 34%), and the most frequent underlying causes were hypertensive disorders (n=31; 62%) and obstetric hemorrhage (n=15; 30%). Healthcare providers were often prevented from performing emergency cesarean delivery until the required consent had been received from the woman's extended family.CONCLUSION: Maternity care in Somaliland must be improved, and the issue of legal authority for consent examined, to ensure both safe and timely provision of emergency cesarean delivery. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Egal, Jama Ali, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Incidence and causes of severe maternal outcomes in Somaliland using the sub-Saharan Africa maternal near-miss criteria : A prospective cross-sectional study in a national referral hospital.
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. - : Wiley. - 0020-7292 .- 1879-3479. ; 159:3, s. 856-864
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and causes of severe maternal outcomes and the unmet need for life-saving obstetric interventions among women admitted for delivery in a referral hospital in Somaliland.METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 15, 2019, to March 31, 2020, with women admitted during pregnancy or childbirth or within 42 days after delivery. Data was collected using the World Health Organization (WHO) and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) maternal near-miss (MNM) tools. Descriptive analysis was performed by computing frequencies, proportions and ratios.RESULTS: The MNM ratio were 56 (SSA criteria) and 13 (WHO criteria) per 1,000 live births. The mortality index was highest among women with medical complications (63%), followed by obstetric haemorrhage (13%), pregnancy-related infection (10%) and hypertensive disorders (7.9%) according to the SSA MNM criteria. Most women giving birth received prophylactic oxytocin for postpartum haemorrhage prevention (97%), and most laparotomies (60%) for ruptured uterus were conducted after three hours.CONCLUSION: There is a need to improve the quality of maternal health services through implementation of evidence-based obstetric interventions and continuous in-service training for health care providers. Using the SSA MNM criteria could facilitate such preventive measures in this setting as well as similar low-resource contexts.
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| 3. |
- Hildingsson, Ingegerd, et al.
(author)
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African midwifery students’ self-assessed confidence in antenatal care : a multi-country study
- 2019
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In: Global Health Action. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Evidence-based antenatal care is one cornerstone in Safe Motherhood and educated and confident midwives remain to be optimal caregivers in Africa. Confidence in antenatal midwifery skills is important and could differ depending on the provision of education among the training institutions across Africa. Objective: The aim of the study was to describe and compare midwifery students’ confidence in basic antenatal skills, in relation to age, sex, program type and level of program. Methods: A survey in seven sub-Saharan African countries was conducted. Enrolled midwifery students from selected midwifery institutions in each country presented selfreported data on confidence to provide antenatal care. Data were collected using a selfadministered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 22 antenatal skills based on the competency framework from the International Confederation of Midwives. The skills were grouped into three domains; Identify fetal and maternal risk factors and educate parents; Manage and document emergent complications and Physical assessment and nutrition. Results: In total, 1407 midwifery students from seven Sub-Saharan countries responded. Almost one third (25-32%) of the students reported high levels of confidence in all three domains. Direct entry programs were associated with higher levels of confidence in all three domains, compared to post-nursing and double degree programs. Students enrolled at education with diploma level presented with high levels of confidence in two out of three domains. Conclusions: A significant proportion of student midwives rated themselves low on confidence to provide ANC. Midwifery students enrolled in direct entry programs reported higher levels of confidence in all domains. It is important that local governments develop education standards, based on recommendations from the International Confederation of midwives. Further research is needed for the evaluation of actual competence.
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| 4. |
- Kiruja, Jonah, et al.
(author)
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Association between delayed cesarean section and severe maternal and adverse newborn outcomes in the Somaliland context : a cohort study in a national referral hospital
- 2023
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In: Global Health Action. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 16:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background In a critical obstetric situation, the time interval between the decision of performing a caesarean section (CS) and delivery can influence maternal and newborn outcomes. In Somaliland, consent for surgical procedures, such as CS needs to be sought from family members. Objective To determine the association between a delay in performing a CS and severe maternal and newborn outcomes in a national referral hospital in Somaliland. The type of barriers leading to delayed performance of CS after a doctor's decision were also explored. Methods Women were followed from the time of decision to perform CS until discharge from the hospital between 15 April 2019 and 30 March 2020. No delay was defined as < 1 hour and delayed CS was defined as 1-3 hours and >3 hours from decision of CS to delivery. Information was collected on barriers leading to delayed CS and maternal and newborn outcomes. Data was analysed using binary and multivariate logistic regression. Results Overall, 1255 women were recruited from a larger cohort of 6658 women. A delay in CS >3 hours was associated with higher odds of severe maternal outcomes (aOR 1.58, 95% CI [1.13-2.21]). On the contrary, delay in performing a CS >3 hours was associated with lower odds of stillbirth (aOR 0.48, 95% CI [0.32-0.71]) compared to women without delay. Further, family decision-making for consent was the most important barrier leading to delays of >3 hours as compared to financial factors and barriers related to healthcare providers (48% vs 26% and 15%, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions In this setting, delay in performing CS >3 hours was associated with higher risk of severe maternal outcomes. A standardised system of performing a CS by primarily addressing the barriers associated with family decision-making, financial aspects and healthcare providers is needed.
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| 5. |
- Kiruja, Jonah, et al.
(author)
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Healthcare providers' experiences of comprehensive emergency obstetric care in Somaliland : An explorative study with focus on cesarean deliveries
- 2022
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In: Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. - : Elsevier. - 1877-5756 .- 1877-5764. ; 34
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the provision of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) with a focus on cesarean deliveries in a referral hospital and maternal and child health centers in SomalilandMethods: An exploratory qualitative approach using focus group discussions was employed at the main referral and teaching hospital and four maternal and child health centers in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Twenty-eight HCPs were divided into groups of 6-8 for discussions lasting 1 to 2 h. All HCPs included in the study had experiences with the provision of EmOC. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: Collective family decision making was identified by HCPs as a barrier to the provision of EmOC. This tradition of decision making at a group level was perceived as time-consuming and delayed HCPs from obtaining informed consent for EmOC. Low socioeconomic status and poor knowledge about maternal healthcare among users affected care seeking among women. Suboptimal EmOC at the hospital was reported to be due to miscommunication, inadequate interprofessional collaboration and lack of infrastructure.Conclusions: HCPs encountered difficulties with the provision of EmOC. A broad array of strategies targeting the community and healthcare system is needed, including training of HCPs on intracultural communication competence, interprofessional collaboration and use of alternative birth methods other than CS. Antenatal care can be used to prepare families for potential obstetric emergencies and as an opportunity to obtain written informed consent.
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| 6. |
- Kiruja, Jonah
(author)
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Quality of maternal healthcare : Exploring severe maternal outcomes and the influence of delays and decision-making on caesarean sections in a low-resource setting
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Somaliland has one of the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide, yet there is limited evidence for severe maternal outcomes and challenges with the provision and utilisation of emergency obstetric care (EmOC). This thesis studied quality of maternal healthcare by exploring severe maternal outcomes and the influences of delays and decision-making on caesarean sections in Somaliland.In Paper I, incidences of severe maternal outcomes and unmet need for emergency obstetric care interventions were investigated at the national hospital using a cross sectional study. The maternal mortality ratio was 462 per 100,000 live births and the maternal near miss ratio 56.5 per 1000 live births, according to sub-Saharan Africa criteria. Most laparotomies (60%) were performed after more than 3 hours. Medical complications (63%) had the highest mortality index.In Paper II, an explorative qualitative study using focus group discussions was conducted with healthcare providers. A collective decision-making process at the family rather than individual level by the woman; poverty and lack of awareness; and healthcare system factors such as miscommunication, infrastructure and inadequate collaboration were experienced as factors contributing to delays with the utilisation of EmOC.In Paper III, a cohort study examined whether there was an association between delayed caesarean section (CS) and adverse maternal and newborn outcomes and the type of barrier leading to delayed CS. A delay in CS of more than 3 hours was associated with higher odds of severe maternal outcomes (aOR 1.58, (95% CI [1.13–2.21]). Moreover, family decision-making for consent was the most important barrier leading to delays of more than 3 hours (48%). In Paper IV, a mixed methods study was conducted to investigate barriers to and facilitators of timely family consent for CS. Women with hypertensive disorders (aOR 8.491, 95% [1.076–66.991]) and obstetric hemorrhage (aOR 3.209, 95% CI [1.159–8.887]) were likely to have late family consent for CS. Poor communication and understanding, differences in understanding between family members on the need for CS and absence of the person giving consent were barriers to timely family consent for CS to be performed. Husband’s autonomous decision-making for CS, adequate disclosure of all relevant information about CS and previous CS aided timely family consent for CS performance.There is need to improve the overall quality of maternal healthcare to reduce severe maternal outcomes. A proactive-orientated model is suggested with strategies targeting the community and healthcare system including training of healthcare providers on intracultural communication competence, obtaining consent and using associated protocols and guidelines, interprofessional collaboration and the use of alternative birth methods other than CS. Antenatal care should be used to prepare families for potential obstetric emergencies and obtain written informed consent. Moreover, women should be allowed to give consent in maternal health emergencies.
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| 7. |
- Kiruja, Jonah, et al.
(author)
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Risk factors for stillbirth and beliefs : Findings from a pilot near miss questionnaire study in Somaliland focusing the mother-baby dyad
- 2017
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In: MOJ Women’s Health. - Edmond, OK, USA : MedCrave Group, LLC. - 2475-5494. ; 5:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Somalia is one of 13 countries in Africa with stillbirth rates of more than 30 per 1000 total birth. To our knowledge no study in Somaliland has focused on the mother-baby dyad regarding risk factors for stillbirth. The objective of this study was to identify frequency, causes and beliefs for stillbirth in mothers with life threatening conditions as a pilot for a potential nationwide near-miss study with full coverage in the Somaliland health care system.Method: A prospective cross sectional study using the WHO near-miss questionnaire in a tertiary level hospital with 1.385 deliveries during a five months period in 2015.Results: Out of 138 near miss and death events 22% (n=30) had a stillbirth. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the mothers (n=23) with stillborn babies survived and 23% died (n=7). They were diagnosed with life threatening conditions, possible to prevent, on arrival at the tertiary hospital. None of them developed the maternal complication/s during the hospital stay. Cesarean sections (43%) were performed within three hours after arrival. Beliefs regarding the stillbirth for the near miss women were that holding the baby born death helps them cope with the loss (74%) and that religious believes helps them cope faster with the loss (91%).Conclusion and clinical implications: The near miss women, their families, TBAs and SBAs might need better information of what causes a stillbirth, how they could prevent it and about the near miss women’s beliefs surrounding stillbirth to enable them to communicate this to pregnant women and prevent delay in admission to the tertiary level hospital. Furthermore, this pilot study suggest that the “Near Miss Questionnaire” could be used in low-and middle income settings to detect a full picture of the situation with stillbirth in a country.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Lindgren, Helena, et al.
(author)
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The three pathways to becoming a midwife : self-assessed confidence in selected competencies in intrapartum care from seven African countries
- 2021
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In: African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. - : Mark Allen Group. - 2052-4293. ; 15:1, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/AimsGlobally, there are three pathways to become a midwife: midwifery post nursing, direct entry midwifery and integrated nursing and midwifery. There is limited knowledge on the effectiveness of pre-service midwifery education. The aim of this study was to describe and compare midwifery students' confidence in intrapartum skills and associated factors such as type and level of education.MethodsA multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted, where midwifery students were approached in the final months of their education programme. Data were collected using a questionnaire, based on the basic skills by the International Confederation of Midwives. Intrapartum care comprised 40 skills.ResultsIn total, 1407 midwifery students from seven sub-Saharan countries responded. The 40 skills were grouped into six domains; three related to care during the first and second stage of labour and three related to care during the third stage of labour. Sex and age were significantly associated with confidence, with female students and those 26–35 years old having higher levels of confidence. Students enrolled in a direct entry programme were more confident than other students in all three domains of care related to the first and second stage of labour.ConclusionsDirect entry was found to result in higher confidence for midwifery students than post nursing programmes or integrated programmes. Further research is needed for evaluation of competence.
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| 10. |
- Osman, Hodan Mohamoud, et al.
(author)
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Women's experiences of stillbirth in Somaliland : A phenomenological description.
- 2017
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In: Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. - : Elsevier BV. - 1877-5756 .- 1877-5764. ; 11, s. 107-111
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries in Africa have the highest rates of stillbirths in the world today: as such, the stories of the grief of these women who have had a stillbirth in these settings need to be told and the silence on stillbirth needs to be broken. In an attempt to fill this gap, the aim of this study was to describe the experiences of Muslim Somali mothers who have lost their babies at birth.METHOD: Qualitative interviews with ten Somali women one to six months after they experienced a stillbirth. Data were analyzed using Giorgi's method of phenomenological description.RESULTS: In the analysis, four descriptive structures emerged: "a feeling of alienation"; "altered stability in life"; "immediate pain when the sight of the dead baby turns into a precious memory"; and "a wave of despair eases". Together, these supported the essence: "Balancing feelings of anxiety, fear and worries for one's own health and life by accepting Allah's will and putting one's trust in him".CONCLUSIONS: This study makes an important contribution to our knowledge about how stillbirth is experienced by women in Somaliland. This information can be useful when health care providers communicate the experiences of stillbirth to women of Muslim faith who have experienced an intrauterine fatal death (IUFD) resulting in a stillbirth.
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