Emergency Obstetric Care Needs in Tanga Region, Tanzania
Author Information
Author(s): Prytherch Helen, Massawe Siriel, Kuelker Rainer, Hunger Claudia, Mtatifikolo Ferdinand, Jahn Albrecht
Primary Institution: Tanzanian German Programme to Support Health
Hypothesis
Can the Unmet Obstetric Need (UON) concept be effectively used to assess the coverage of obstetric care in Tanga Region?
Conclusion
Tanga Region has significant unmet obstetric need, with only 1% of major obstetric interventions performed compared to the expected 2%.
Supporting Evidence
- 71% of major obstetric interventions were performed for absolute maternal indications.
- The caesarean section rate was only 1.4%, below the expected 2%.
- Perinatal mortality was reported at 9.1%, raising concerns about care quality.
Takeaway
In Tanga, many women who need emergency childbirth help aren't getting it, especially in rural areas.
Methodology
Data was collected prospectively from four hospitals over two years, focusing on major obstetric interventions and their indications.
Potential Biases
Potential under-reporting of interventions and outcomes may skew results.
Limitations
Some data may be underestimated due to incomplete reporting from one hospital.
Participant Demographics
The study included women from both urban and rural areas in Tanga Region.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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