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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Open Access

A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Kigoma, Tanzania

Sunday Dominico, Florina Serbanescu, Nguke Mwakatundu, Mkambu Godfrey Kasanga, Paul Chaote, Leonard Subi, Godson Maro, Neena Prasad, Alicia Ruiz, Wilfred Mongo, Karen Schmidt and Samantha Lobis
Global Health: Science and Practice April 2022, 10(2):e2100485; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00485
Sunday Dominico
aThamini Uhai, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Florina Serbanescu
bU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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  • For correspondence: fxs7{at}cdc.gov
Nguke Mwakatundu
aThamini Uhai, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Mkambu Godfrey Kasanga
aThamini Uhai, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Paul Chaote
cPresident's Office Regional Administration and Local Government, Health Social Welfare and Nutrition Division, Dodoma, Tanzania.
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Leonard Subi
dMinistry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania.
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Godson Maro
eBloomberg Philanthropies, New York, NY, USA.
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Neena Prasad
eBloomberg Philanthropies, New York, NY, USA.
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Alicia Ruiz
bU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Wilfred Mongo
fEngenderHealth, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Karen Schmidt
gVital Strategies, New York, NY, USA.
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Samantha Lobis
gVital Strategies, New York, NY, USA.
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    FIGURE

    Program to Reduce Maternal Deaths in Tanzania: Interventions, Implementation, Duration, and Timeline

    Abbreviations: CEmONC, comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care; CME, continuing medical education; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CHWs, community health workers; CPAC, comprehensive postabortion care; FP, family planning; HBB, Helping Babies Breathe; HCs, health centers; KMC, kangaroo mother care; SBA, skilled birth attendance.

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    TABLE 1.

    Program to Reduce Maternal Deaths in Tanzania: Maternal Health Strategies, Interventions, and Scope

    Strategy and InterventionsScope
    Decentralize CEmONC from hospitals to health centers
        Upgrade (construction of operating theaters and other renovations) and equip health centers to provide CEmONC6 health centers upgraded (Group 1)
    7 health centers upgraded (Group 2)
        Support task sharing of CEmONCAMOs recruited to provide obstetric surgery
    NMWs and clinical officers recruited to provide anesthesia
        Train associate clinicians and nurses to deliver CEmONC and all providers in the maternity to provide basic EmONC (BEmONC)CEmONC (including obstetric surgery): 33 AMOs trained
    Theater management: 14 NMWs trained
    Anesthesia: 53 NMWs and 1 clinical officer trained
    BEmONC: 160 health providers trained (2 AMOs, 129 NMWs, and 29 clinical officers/assistants)
        Provide computers and mobile phones with CUG network connections to increase communication among health providers and clinical experts, at no expense to providersComputers: to Group 1 health centers
    Mobile phones with CUG: to Group 1 and 2 health centers
    Sustain availability of good-quality CEmONC
        Support and mentor associate clinicians and nurses to deliver CEmONC (AMOs in obstetric surgery and NMWs and clinical officers in anesthesia) and all providers in the maternity to provide BEmONCProviders supported: approximately 350 health providers in maternity wards at 13 upgraded health centers
    Supportive supervision and mentorship visits: 2011–2014, monthly visits to supported health centers; 2015–2018, quarterly visits to supported health centers
        Provide continuing medical education to supported health centers to sustain and expand health providers' knowledge and skillsIn-person: 12 CME in-person workshops conducted 2011–2019 on 6 topics: AVD, infection prevention, obstetric anesthesia, hemorrhage, criterion-based audits, neonatal resuscitation
    With information communication technology: 6 e-learning modules developed and disseminated to supported health centers: cesarean delivery, spinal anesthesia, assisted vaginal delivery, management of postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and neonatal resuscitation
        Conduct clinical audits of maternal and neonatal deaths, cesarean deliveries, and near misses to monitor and improve quality of careIn supported health centers: 2011–2014, conducted monthly; 2015–2018, conducted quarterly
        Provide emergency call system and conduct weekly teleconference for supported facilities to increase health providers' access to clinical advice from senior obstetriciansEmergency call system: Program obstetricians provided 24/7 telesupport to health providers 2014–2019
    Weekly teleconferences: Program obstetricians facilitated conference calls Jan. 2013–Oct. 2018
        Train providers to plan, budget, and manage EmONC servicesLeadership and management: 95 health facility managers (“in-chargesa”) trained
    Budget planning: 104 in-charges trained
        Train health providers to maintain biomedical equipment, budget for new equipment, and do minor repairs of existing equipmentProviders from all supported health centers
        Create/adapt and distribute job aids to supported facilitiesJob aid topics: respectful maternity care, antenatal protocol, active management of the third stage of labor, HBB, postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, management of shock, vacuum extraction, breech delivery, shoulder dystocia, infection prevention and control, WHO IMPAC guidelines, Tanzanian national EmONC treatment guidelines
        Introduce new evidence-based clinical interventionsAVD with vacuum in all supported hospitals, health centers, and dispensaries
    Tranexamic acid in all supported hospitals, health centers, and dispensaries beginning in 2018
        Work with government officials to address human resource shortagesRecruited retired nurse-midwives to rejoin workforce; trained medical attendants (providers without official nursing training), as part of the maternity ward team, in skilled birth attendance
        Build staff houses at health facilities to help retain health providers in rural areas and to ensure they are living close to health facilitiesConstructed or renovated 18 two-family staff houses at 5 health centers and 3 hospitals
    Improve newborn care
        Introduce HBB in supported facilities189 providers trained at 3 supported hospitals and 12 health centers
        Train providers to promote and support women to use KMC and make minor renovations to better accommodate KMC in supported facilities264 providers trained at 3 supported hospitals and 12 health centers; rooms renovated and equipped in 2 district hospitals and 10 health centers
    Improve quality of obstetric care in dispensaries
        Renovate and equip dispensaries for routine obstetric care and BEmONC18 dispensaries in 7 districts
        Train dispensary health providers to provide routine obstetric care and elements of BEmONC39 health providers (enrolled nurses, NMWs, and clinical officers) trained initially; more than 85 additional providers trained over time
        Link health centers and affiliated dispensaries for supervision and mentorship, including provision of motorcycles to facilitate supervision and mentorship visits8 supported health centers, each equipped with a motorcycle for transport of mentors, provided continuous supportive supervision to 18 dispensaries
    Strengthen referral systems
        Facilitate stakeholders to create and disseminate referral guidelinesIncrease preparedness for obstetric emergencies in communities and health facilitiesPilot: One supported health center and 5 affiliated dispensaries in 1 district
    Replication areas: 4 additional health centers and 14 affiliated dispensaries in 2 districts
        Support communities to set up and manage emergency health funds for transporting women with obstetric emergencies to health facilitiesPilot: April 2016–March 2017, 1,137 households and 204 individuals in 11 villages contributed a total of 4,285,700 TZS ($1,948 USD)
    Replication areas: Nov. 2017–Dec. 2018, 24 villages contributed approximately 200,000–560,000 TZS (US$85–US$240) and 70 women benefited from these funds
        Organize local transport providers to be ready to transport women with obstetric emergencies when neededBodaboda and other taxi drivers mobilized in 5 catchment areas (pilot and replication areas)
    Improve experience of care for women delivering at facilities
        Introduce birth companionship for facility birthsPiloted in 9 supported health facilities (1 district hospital and 8 health centers); partitions added to labor rooms to increase audio and visual privacy
        Increase demand for facility delivery and improve birth preparedness
        Create and manage multimedia communication campaigns2 region-wide campaigns with maternal health focus (implemented in 2014, 2016, and 2018); 1 additional campaign with focus on family planning
        Train and support CHWs to provide maternal and reproductive health education, mobilize and link communities with health services, and help communities be more prepared for obstetric emergencies139 CHWs supported (63 supported by Thamini Uhai and 76 supported by other program partners)
    2014–2019: CHWs conducted hundreds of program-related outreach events
    2017–2018: CHWs made more than 14,000 visits to pregnant women
    Support and sustain good quality EmONC at regional, district, and community levels
        Strengthen hospitals to back up and serve as resources for health centersConstruction of new operating theaters and renovation of maternity wards at 3 supported hospitals
        Include regional and district level health officials in routine supervision and mentorship visits to supported facilitiesApproximately 50 district council and regional health officials participated
        Form and train a regional mentorship team1 regional mentorship team created with 36 members (obstetrician-gynecologist, medical officers, AMOs, and NMWs).
        Strengthen capacity of district councils to plan, budget, manage, and support EmONC service delivery16 district council members trained
        Improve quality and use of data for decision making through training of providers and district and regional councils60 individuals from hospitals, health centers, and regional and district councils trained in data for decision making (a series of 4 workshops), ICD-10 codes and maternal mortality (1 workshop), and data quality (1 workshop)
        Train technicians to repair biomedical equipment4 electrical technicians from districts with supported facilities
        Train regional and district council officials to conduct maternal and perinatal death surveillance and responseApproximately 30 people (representing the regional and all 8 district councils) trained in 1 workshop to become members of the Regional Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response team
        Urge government officials at the national, regional, and district levels to send more health providers to Kigoma, increase budget ceiling for health centers offering CEmONC and sustain good-quality service delivery after project endNational: frequent meetings with the Ministry of Health, PO-RALG, and relevant members of parliament
    Regional: routine meetings with regional health management team members and regional medical officer
    District: routine meetings with district health management councils and district medical officers
    Strengthen accountability for good-quality service deliveryIdentify and engage champions (local council members, members of parliament)
        Share information with communities so that they can contribute to sustaining good-quality service delivery after project endConducted 83 meetings with communities in catchment areas surrounding supported health facilities.
        Use media to promote program achievements, advocate for sustainability of program activities, and elevate maternal mortality as a priority in Tanzania2013–2019: an average of 4 news opportunities staged per year; news events drew 7–14 media houses and generated on average 8–15 mentions in print, online, television, and/or radio, making a total of 20–50 mentions annually; Facebook posts drew 5,532 followers; Jamii Forums, a popular Tanzanian website, reached more than 378,000 people and drew more than 270 contributions from audience members; and Twitter followers are 956 and 1,503 messages tweeted
    • Abbreviations: AMO, assistant medical officer; AVD, assisted vaginal delivery; BEmONC, basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care; CEmONC, comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care; CHWs, community health workers; CME, continuing medical education; CUG, closed user group; EmONC, emergency obstetric and neonatal care; HBB, Helping Babies Breathe; IMPAC, Integrated Management of Pregnancy and Childbirth; KMC, kangaroo mother care; NMW, nurse-midwife; PO-RALG President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government; TZS, Tanzanian shilling (2018 average exchange rate: 1 USD=2,200 TZS).

    • ↵a A health facility in-charge is a health worker that is responsible for the management of daily facility operations in addition to clinical duties.

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    TABLE 2.

    Population, Births, and Health System, Kigoma Region, 2013, 2016, and 2018

    201320162018
    Population and births
        Total population2,179,0002,339,6842,453,336
        Population in rural areas, %82.883.684.1
        Women of reproductive age (15–49 years)485,803526,441572,463
        Expected annual number of live births87,45091,014100,287
    Health workforce
        Number of health workers providing skilled care at birtha9891,5441,621
        Density of health workers providing skilled care at birtha (per 10,000 population)4.56.66.6
    Health care facility types
        Regional hospitals111
        District hospitals222
        Other hospitals (all private)233
        Health centers with surgical care81216
        Health centers without surgical care151311
        Dispensaries providing maternity careb99143164
    Heath facility ownership
        Government119161184
        Private/faith-based81313
    Health facilities supported by the program
        Governmental hospitals333
        Health centers supported (groups 1 and 2)61213
        Dispensaries receiving predominantly EmONC supportb01718
        Dispensaries receiving predominantly family planning supportb04949
    Health facilities providing EmONCc,d
        Basic EmONC001
        Basic EmONC w/o AVD (BEmONC-1)235
        Comprehensive EmONC888
        Comprehensive EmONC w/o AVD (CEmONC-1)117
    • Abbreviations: AVD, assisted vaginal delivery; EmONC, emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

    • ↵a Includes obstetrician/gynecologists, surgeons, medical doctors, assistant medical officers, clinical officers/assistants, nurse-midwives, advanced practice nurses, and nurse assistants/medical attendants.

    • ↵b All program-supported dispensaries were upgraded for essential maternal and newborn care and family planning services; 18 dispensaries received additional support, mentorship, and supported supervision for basic EmONC; 49 dispensaries received additional support, mentorship, and supervision for family planning activities, including outreach activities.

    • ↵c EmONC includes a set of evidence-based lifesaving interventions or “signal functions” that the World Health Organization recommends for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.44 Basic EmONC interventions include administration of parenteral antibiotics, uterotonics, or anticonvulsants; manual removal of placenta; removal of retained products; assisted vaginal delivery; and basic neonatal resuscitation. Comprehensive EmONC interventions include 2 additional services: ability to perform obstetric surgery (e.g., cesarean delivery) and blood transfusion. Facilities were classified based on whether they had, within the previous 3 months, performed each of these interventions. Because assisted vaginal delivery—using either forceps or vacuum extractor—is relatively uncommon in Tanzania, some facilities were classified as fully providing EmONC care even if they did not perform assisted vaginal deliveries within the past 3 months.

    • ↵d A minimum of 25 EmONC facilities including at least 5 fully functional CEmONC facilities are recommended for the 2018 population size of Kigoma.45,46

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    TABLE 3.

    Selected Health Facility Indicators by Facility Type and Program Support Status, Kigoma Region, 2013,a 2016, and 2018

    CharacteristicKigoma RegionTotal HospitalsTotal Health CentersTotal DispensariesHospitalsHealth CentersDispensaries
    PSNPSPS Group 1PS Group 2NPSPS EmONCPS FPNPS
    201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018
    Number of health facilitiesb12717419756623252799143164333233666667111314111718374949517797
    General facility infrastructure
        Availability of electricity75.672.491.9100.0100.0100.087.080.081.571.769.993.3100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.3100.0100.083.383.385.790.969.271.472.747.1100.073.077.693.970.670.191.8
        Availability of clean and safe water70.981.092.9100.0100.0100.091.396.0100.064.677.691.5100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.383.3100.090.9100.0100.072.794.194.467.667.389.860.880.591.8
    Availability of essential drugs
        No stock-out last 12 months of antibiotics39.448.992.9100.0100.0100.069.680.088.929.341.393.3100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.050.083.3100.083.366.7100.072.784.678.627.335.3100.027.036.791.831.445.592.8
        No stock-out last 12 months of magnesium sulfate26.087.489.380.0100.083.373.984.096.312.187.488.4100.0100.066.750.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.050.066.7100.072.784.692.927.382.4100.013.587.889.87.888.385.6
        No stock-out last 12 months of uterotonics73.289.799.0100.0100.0100.095.796.096.366.788.199.4100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.3100.0100.0100.085.790.9100.0100.0100.088.2100.062.287.898.062.788.3100.0
    Routine maternal care
        Labor and delivery services available 24/792.197.797.5100.0100.0100.0100.096.9100.089.997.997.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.3100.0100.0100.0100.090.9100.0100.089.2100.091.890.296.199.0
        AMTSL performed routinely (confirmed)62.240.295.9100.0100.0100.087.068.096.354.532.995.7100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.033.3100.072.769.292.963.635.394.445.930.695.958.833.895.9
        Availability and use of partographs20.536.278.7100.0100.0100.060.956.077.87.130.178.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.333.333.385.754.546.271.40.029.494.42.726.581.611.832.573.2
    Neonatal care
        Providers initiate immediate skin-to-skin contactNA97.799.5NA83.3100.0NA100.0100.0NA97.999.4NA100.0100.0NA66.7100.0NA100.0100.0NA100.0100.0NA100.0100.0NA100.0100.0NA98.0100.0NA97.499.0
        Providers promote KMCNA67.869.0NA83.3100.0NA72.088.9NA66.464.6NA100.0100.0NA66.7100.0NA66.7100.0NA83.3100.0NA69.278.6NA41.261.1NA59.273.5NA76.660.8
    Forms and protocols
        Availability of maternal death reviews forms4.712.132.560.066.7100.08.728.070.41.07.023.866.7100.0100.050.033.3100.033.366.7100.00.016.771.40.015.457.10.00.016.72.78.228.60.07.822.7
        Availability of perinatal death reviews forms1.610.933.020.033.3100.04.328.074.10.07.023.833.366.7100.00.00.0100.016.766.7100.00.016.771.40.015.464.30.00.011.10.08.228.60.07.823.7
        Availability of triage protocol/algorithim29.148.961.440.050.083.347.848.088.924.249.056.133.366.766.750.033.3100.066.733.3100.033.350.085.745.553.885.718.235.361.124.342.953.125.555.856.7
        Availability of IMPAC guidelinesNA8.681.7NA66.783.3NA44.070.4NA0.083.5NA66.766.7NA66.7100.0NA66.783.3NA16.771.4NA46.264.3NA0.0100.0NA0.085.7NA0.079.4
        Availability of HBB implementation guidelinesNA79.993.4NA100.0100.0NA84.0100.0NA78.392.1NA100.0100.0NA100.0100.0NA50.0100.0NA83.3100.0NA100.0100.0NA58.894.4NA81.695.9NA80.589.7
    • Abbreviations: AMTSL, active management of the third stage of labor; EmONC, emergency obstetric and neonatal care; FP, family planning; HBB, Helping Babies Breathe; IMPAC, Integrated Management of Pregnancy and Childbirth; KMC, kangaroo mother care; NA, not available; PS, program-supported; NPS, non-program-supported throughout the program implementation.

    • ↵a Indicators for year 2013 for facilities that started to receive support from the program during 2013–2017 (group 2 health centers and dispensaries) reflect pre-intervention status.

    • ↵b The number of health facilities providing maternity care increased from 2013 and 2018 and significance testing is not applicable.

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    TABLE 4.

    Provision of EmONC in Hospitals, Health Centers, and Dispensaries by Program Support Status, Kigoma Region, 2013, 2016, and 2018a

    CharacteristicKigoma RegionTotal HospitalsTotal Health CentersTotal DispensariesHospitalsHealth CentersDispensaries
    PSNPSPS Group 1PS Group 2NPSPS EmONCPS FPNPS
    201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018201320162018
    No. of health facilitiesb12717419756623252799143164333233666667111314111718374949517797
    Monthly no. of deliveries3,1814,6127,0999701,1631,1691,0421,4472,1261,1702,0023,8048208927631492714064905806411063596294465088571372767095567671,3234779591,772
    Monthly no. of obstetric complications treated48162276832237540314923929098752583012836474121658789758927794109212512286422
    Signal function
        Parenteral antibiotics80.367.299.5100.0100.0100.095.792.0100.075.861.599.4100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.3100.0100.083.3100.090.9100.0100.072.758.8100.070.355.1100.080.466.299.0
        Uterotonic drugs81.170.7100.0100.0100.0100.0100.088.0100.075.866.4100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.3100.0100.084.6100.0100.047.1100.078.463.3100.068.672.7100.0
        Anticonvulsants29.191.492.9100.0100.0100.082.688.0100.013.191.691.5100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.066.766.7100.081.892.3100.027.388.2100.016.289.893.97.893.588.7
        Manual removal of placenta11.08.610.780.0100.0100.043.528.051.90.01.40.6100.0100.0100.050.0100.0100.066.716.750.016.70.071.445.546.242.90.00.05.60.00.00.00.02.60.0
        Removal of retained products13.416.758.9100.0100.0100.052.284.085.20.01.453.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.066.7100.0100.016.783.3100.063.676.971.40.00.088.90.00.059.20.02.643.3
        Assisted vaginal delivery10.26.96.180.083.350.030.428.033.32.00.00.0100.0100.066.750.066.733.383.383.366.70.00.042.918.215.414.30.00.00.00.00.00.03.90.00.0
        Neonatal resuscitation33.934.580.7100.0100.0100.087.088.0100.018.222.476.8100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.383.3100.081.884.6100.027.317.694.413.526.581.619.620.871.1
        Obstetric surgery10.29.810.7100.0100.0100.034.844.055.60.00.00.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.083.383.30.066.7100.018.215.421.40.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
        Blood transfusion11.06.911.2100.0100.0100.039.124.059.30.00.00.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.066.783.30.00.0100.027.315.428.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
    Average number of SFs2.83.14.78.68.88.55.75.66.91.82.44.29.09.08.78.08.78.38.37.37.83.84.78.15.45.35.82.32.14.91.82.34.31.82.64.0
    EmONC status
        CEmONC6.34.64.180.083.350.017.412.018.50.00.00.0100.0100.066.750.066.733.333.316.716.70.00.042.918.215.47.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
        CEmONC w/o AVD0.80.63.60.016.750.04.30.014.80.00.00.00.00.033.30.033.366.716.70.016.70.00.028.60.00.07.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
        CEmONC w/o MRP0.80.61.50.00.00.04.34.011.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.016.716.733.30.00.00.00.00.07.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
        BEmONC0.00.00.50.00.00.00.00.03.70.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.016.70.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.05.60.00.00.00.00.00.0
        BEmONC w/o AVD1.61.72.50.00.00.08.712.014.80.00.00.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.016.70.00.09.123.128.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
        BEmONC w/o MRP0.01.10.00.00.00.00.08.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.033.30.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
    • Abbreviations: AVD, assisted vaginal delivery; BEmONC, basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care; CEmONC, comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care; EmONC, emergency obstetric and neonatal care; FP, family planning; MRP, manual removal of the placenta; PS, program-supported; NPS, non-program-supported; SFs, signal functions; w/o, without.

    • ↵a Unless otherwise stated, the figures in this table represent percentages of facilities with a selected characteristic.

    • ↵b The number of health facilities providing maternity care increased from 2013 and 2018 and significance testing is not applicable.

    • View popup
    TABLE 5.

    Pregnancy Outcomes and Maternal and Perinatal Health Indicators by Health Facility Type, Kigoma Region, 2013 and 2018

    Kigoma RegionHospitalsHealth CentersDispensaries
    20132018% Change20132018% Change20132018% Change20132018% Change
    Number of health facilities17419713%660%25278%14316415%
    Maternal outcomes
        Number of facility deliveries38,17785,187123%11,63714,02220%12,50525,517104%14,03545,648225%
        Number of direct obstetric complicationsa5,7699,21760%3,8694,83725%1,7933,48294%107898739%
        Number of cesarean deliveries2,2904,47195%1,7932,88961%4971,582218%00N/A
        Number of maternal deaths (direct and indirect)11414830%89912%224186%316433%
        Number of direct maternal deaths10212926%7978-1%203995%312300%
    Perinatal outcomes
        Number of births delivered in facilities38,63786,162123%11,82214,27021%12,69525,918104%14,12045,974226%
        Number of live births delivered in facilities37,60685,054126%11,23713,78023%12,32825,427106%14,04145,847227%
        Number of stillbirths delivered in facilities1,0311,1017%585489-16%36748632%7912659%
        Number of intrapartum stillbirths delivered in facilities556520-6%320267-17%191187-2%456647%
        Number of predischarge neonatal deaths40464961%26031622%129296129%1537147%
        Number of perinatal deaths (stillbirths and predischarge neonatal deaths)1,4351,75022%845805-5%49678258%9416373%
    Kigoma RegionHospitalsHealth CentersDispensaries
    20132018Sig. Levelb20132018Sig. Levelb20132018Sig. Levelb20132018Sig. Levelb
    Maternal indicators
        Institutional delivery rate,c,d %48.884.9***13.514.0***14.725.4***20.645.5***
        Population cesarean delivery rate,d %2.64.5***2.12.9***0.61.6***0.00.0N/A
        Met need for EmONC, %44.061.3***29.532.2***13.723.1***0.86.0***
        Direct obstetric case fatality rate, %1.81.4**2.01.6NS1.11.1NS2.81.3NS
        Facility MMR (maternal deaths in facilities per 100,000 live births in facilities)303.1174.0***792.0660.4NS178.5161.2NS21.434.9NS
    Perinatal indicators
        Stillbirth rate (per 1,000 live births and stillbirths)26.712.8***49.534.3***28.918.8***5.62.7***
        Intrapartum stillbirth rate (per 1,000 live births and stillbirths)14.46.0***27.118.7***15.07.2***3.21.4***
        Predischarge neonatal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)10.77.6***23.122.9NS10.511.6NS1.10.8NS
        Perinatal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births and stillbirths)37.120.3***71.556.4***39.130.2***6.73.5***
    • Abbreviations: DHIS, district health information systems, EmONC, emergency obstetric and neonatal care; MMR, maternal mortality ratio; N/A, not applicable; Sig. Level, significance level.

    • ↵a Includes antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia/preeclampsia, puerperal sepsis, obstructed labor/uterine rupture, other direct obstetric complications (e.g., embolism, anesthetic complications), and first trimester complications related to all pregnancy losses.

    • ↵b Asterisks indicate significance levels calculated with a z-statistic as follows: ***=P <.01, **=P <.05, *=P<.1, NS=not significant.

    • ↵c The institutional delivery rate in 2013 includes imputations using DHIS-reported number of deliveries for missing months of outcomes, which were primarily in dispensaries. All other indicators were calculated without these imputations, as DHIS only contains aggregate data.

    • ↵d The institutional delivery rate and the cesarean delivery rate use the expected annual number of live births in the regional population as denominators, as shown in Table 2.

    • View popup
    TABLE 6.

    Pregnancy Outcomes and Maternal and Perinatal Health Indicators by Facility Type and Program Support, Kigoma Region, 2013 and 2018

    Kigoma RegionHospitalsHealth CentersDispensaries
    PSNPSPSNPSPSaNPSPS EmONCPS FPNPS
    20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb20132018% Change/ Sig. Levelb
    Number of health facilities81832%9311423%330%330%12138%13148%17186%49490%779726%
    Maternal outcomes
        Number of facility deliveries25,31348,76893%12,86436,419183%9,8449,151-7%1,7934,871172%7,15315,237113%5,35210,28092%1,6428,505418%6,67415,875138%5,71921,268272%
        Number of direct obstetric complicationsc3,9976,20055%1,7723,01770%3,0963,3909%7731,44787%8682,176151%9251,30641%203011405%153332120%72264267%
        Number of cesarean deliveries1,6373,06187%6531,410116%1,3822,02647%411863110%2551,035306%242547126%00N/A00N/A00N/A
        Total number of maternal deaths961015%1847161%7968-14%1023130%152887%71386%02N/A2350%1111000%
        Total number of direct maternal deaths85884%1741141%6958-16%10201%142686%613117%02N/A220%18700%
    Perinatal outcomes
        Number of newborns delivered in facilities25,63449,37893%13,00336,784183%9,9879,315-7%1,8354,955170%7,27515,487113%5,42010,43192%1,6638,553414%6,70916,023139%5,74821,398272%
        Number of live births delivered in facilities24,87048,58595%12,73636,469186%9,4878,921-6%1,7504,859178%7,03915,148115%5,28910,27994%1,6528,518416%6,69215,998139%5,69721,331274%
        Number of stillbirths delivered in facilities7647914%26731016%500393-21%859613%23633843%13114813%1135218%172547%516629%
        Number of intrapartum stillbirths delivered in facilities415381-8%141139-1%274221-19%46460%1231306%6857-16%715114%111536%273633%
        Number of predischarge neonatal deaths29947158%10517870%22525513%356174%71199180%589767%18700%29350%122067%
        Number of perinatal deaths (stillbirths and predischarge neonatal deaths)1,0631,26219%37248831%725648-11%12015731%30753775%18924530%1243258%193479%638637%
    Maternal indicators
        Institutional delivery rate,d,e %31.248.6***17.636.3***11.39.1***2.24.9***8.415.2***6.310.3***2.38.5***9.215.8***9.121.2***
        Population cesarean delivery rate,e %1.93.1***0.71.4***1.62.1***0.50.9***0.31.0***0.30.5***0.00.0N/A0.00.0N/A0.00.0N/A
        Met need for EmONC, %30.541.2***13.520.1***23.625.8***5.911.0***6.614.5***7.110.0***0.22.3***0.12.5***0.52.0***
        Direct obstetric case fatality rate, %2.11.4***1.01.4NS2.21.7NS1.31.4NS1.61.2NS0.61.0NS0.00.7N/A13.30.6NS1.43.0NS
        Facility MMR (maternal deaths in facilities per 100,000 live births in facilities)386.0207.9***141.3128.9NS832.7762.2NS571.4473.3NS213.1184.8NS132.4126.5NS0.023.5N/A29.918.8NS17.651.6NS
    Perinatal indicators
        Stillbirth rate (per 1,000 live births and stillbirths)29.816.0***20.58.4***50.142.2**46.319.4***32.421.8***24.214.2***6.64.1NS2.51.6NS8.93.1***
        Intrapartum stillbirth rate (per 1,000 live births and stillbirths)16.27.7***10.83.8***27.423.7NS25.19.3***16.98.4***12.55.5***4.21.8NS1.60.9NS4.71.7***
        Predischarge neonatal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)12.09.7**8.24.9***23.728.6**20.012.6**10.113.1**11.09.4NS0.60.9NS0.30.6NS2.10.9*
        Perinatal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births and stillbirths)41.525.6***28.613.3***72.669.6NS65.431.7***42.234.7***34.923.5***7.25.0NS2.82.1NS11.04.0***
    • Abbreviations: DHIS, district health information systems; EmONC, emergency obstetric and neonatal care; FP, family planning; MMR, maternal mortality ratio; PS, program-supported; NPS, non-project-supported; Sig. Level, significance level.

    • ↵a Includes group 1 and 2 health centers.

    • ↵b Asterisks indicate significance levels calculated with a z-statistic as follows: ***=P<.01, **=P<.05, *=P<.1, NS=not significant.

    • ↵c Includes antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia/preeclampsia, puerperal sepsis, obstructed labor/uterine rupture, other direct obstetric complications (e.g. embolism, anesthetic complications), and first trimester complications related to all pregnancy losses.

    • ↵d The institutional delivery rate in 2013 includes imputations using DHIS-reported number of deliveries for missing months of outcomes, which were primarily in dispensaries. All other indicators were calculated without these imputations, as DHIS only contains aggregate data.

    • ↵e The institutional delivery rate and the cesarean delivery rate use the expected annual number of live births in the regional population as denominators, as shown in Table 2.

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Global Health: Science and Practice: 10 (2)
Global Health: Science and Practice
Vol. 10, No. 2
April 28, 2022
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A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Kigoma, Tanzania
Sunday Dominico, Florina Serbanescu, Nguke Mwakatundu, Mkambu Godfrey Kasanga, Paul Chaote, Leonard Subi, Godson Maro, Neena Prasad, Alicia Ruiz, Wilfred Mongo, Karen Schmidt, Samantha Lobis
Global Health: Science and Practice Apr 2022, 10 (2) e2100485; DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00485

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A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Kigoma, Tanzania
Sunday Dominico, Florina Serbanescu, Nguke Mwakatundu, Mkambu Godfrey Kasanga, Paul Chaote, Leonard Subi, Godson Maro, Neena Prasad, Alicia Ruiz, Wilfred Mongo, Karen Schmidt, Samantha Lobis
Global Health: Science and Practice Apr 2022, 10 (2) e2100485; DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00485
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