A NOVEL STILLBIRTH AUDIT TOOL IMPLEMENTATION IN GHANA- ASSESSMENT OF DEPLOYMENT IN 2014
Author(s)
Davies-Teye BB1, Baison HM2, Oduro-Mensah E3, Vanotoo L2
1Drifney Consult Ltd, Accra, Ghana, 2Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate Ghana Health Services, Accra, Ghana, 3Ridge Hospital OPD, Accra, Ghana
OBJECTIVES: Even though stillbirths audit improves healthcare quality, it is invisible in global policy prioritization (UNICEF, 2009) as its not counted in local data collection. This study assessed deployment of novel stillbirth audit tool in Ghana. METHODS: A standardized Stillbirth audit tool and protocol developed by the Regional audit task group using the Vanotoo design, Ghana Maternal death Notification form and Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand perinatal death guidelines. District and audit committees were formed and trained. The tool was deployed from January 2014 in the Greater Accra Region. Census of all audited stillbirths in 2014 was made. Data on total stillbirth and deliveries abstracted from District Health Information Management System 2. Data entered and analyzed in Epi info 7. RESULTS: Total of 109,187 deliveries with 2087 stillbirths (19.1 stillbirths per 1000 deliveries) was documented. Fifty eight percent were macerated, 42 percent were fresh. Only 6.4 percent of documented stillbirths were audited of which 50.0 percent were macerated stillbirth, 46.0 percent were fresh and 62 percent females. Ninety three percent had ANC attendants’ mothers with 47.7 percent booking by the end of second trimester. Fifty seven percent had folic acid in first trimester and 40.3 percent completed IPT-Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine prophylaxis. The birth weight ranged 0.5 to 5.0 Kg with mean 2.8± 0.9, median 3.0 and modal weight of 3.0 Kg, sixty nine percent had birth weights greater ≥ 2.5Kg. Birth asphyxia caused 41 percent of the audited deaths and 26.9 percent unknown causes. Poor management, lack of expertise and inadequate human resources were identified as contributory factors and only 32.2 percent were monitored with partograph. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of introducing the novel stillbirth audit in the Greater Accra region cannot be overemphasized however, findings underscore the need to enforce implementation since majority (93.6 percent) of stillbirths were not audited.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2015-05, ISPOR 2015, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Vol. 18, No. 3 (May 2015)
Code
PHS121
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Health Care Research, Health Disparities & Equity
Disease
Pediatrics, Reproductive and Sexual Health