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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Local health workers’ perceptions of substandard care in the management of obstetric hemorrhage in rural Malawi

Authors: Jogchum Jan Beltman, Thomas van den Akker, Dieudonné Bwirire, Anneke Korevaar, Richard Chidakwani, Luc van Lonkhuijzen, Jos van Roosmalen

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

To identify factors contributing to the high incidence of facility-based obstetric hemorrhage in Thyolo District, Malawi, according to local health workers.

Methods

Three focus group discussions among 29 health workers, including nurse-midwives and non-physician clinicians (‘medical assistants’ and ‘clinical officers’).

Results

Factors contributing to facility-based obstetric hemorrhage mentioned by participants were categorized into four major areas: (1) limited availability of basic supplies, (2) lack of human resources, (3) inadequate clinical skills of available health workers and (4) substandard referrals by traditional birth attendants and lack of timely self-referrals of patients.

Conclusion

Health workers in this district mentioned important community, system and provider related factors that need to be addressed in order to reduce the impact of obstetric hemorrhage.
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Metadata
Title
Local health workers’ perceptions of substandard care in the management of obstetric hemorrhage in rural Malawi
Authors
Jogchum Jan Beltman
Thomas van den Akker
Dieudonné Bwirire
Anneke Korevaar
Richard Chidakwani
Luc van Lonkhuijzen
Jos van Roosmalen
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-39

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