Midwifery care providers’ childbirth and immediate newborn care competencies: A cross-sectional study in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001399
• Publication Date: 2023-06-06T19:09:13Z
• Authors: Ann-Beth Moller; Joanne Welsh; Christian Agossou; Elizabeth Ayebare; Effie Chipeta; Jean-Paul Dossou; Mechthild M. Gross; Gisele Houngbo; Hashim Hounkpatin; Bianca Kandeya; Beatrice Mwilike; Max Petzold; Claudia Hanson
• Keywords: Family medicine; Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Cesarean Section; Nursing; FOS: Health sciences; Midwifery Care; Tanzania; Environmental science; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Sociology; Pregnancy; Health Sciences; Pathology; Maternal Morbidity Associated with Pregnancy and Childbirth; Genetics; Biology; Cross-sectional study; Global Maternal and Child Health Outcomes; Environmental planning; Maternal and Child Nutrition in Developing Countries; Nutrition and Dietetics; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Clinical supervision; 3. Good health; FOS: Sociology; Obstetrics; Socioeconomics; Childbirth; FOS: Biological sciences; 8. Economic growth; Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health; Medicine; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Research Article

Evidence-based quality care is essential for reducing sub-Saharan Africa's high burden of maternal and newborn mortality morbidity. Provision results from interaction between several components the health system including competent midwifery providers working environment. We assessed providers' ability to provide intrapartum selected aspects environment as part Action Leveraging Evidence Reduce perinatal morTality morbidity (ALERT) project in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda. used a self-administered questionnaire assess provider knowledge their skills drills simulations behaviours. All doctors providing maternity units were invited take assessment one third who took randomly behaviour simulation assessment. Descriptive statistics interest calculated. A total 302 participants 113 conducted. The assessments revealed gaps frequency fetal heart rate monitoring timing umbilical cord clamping. Over half scored poorly on related routine admission tasks, clinical history-taking rapid initial newborn, while higher scores achieved active management stage labour. also identified lack involvement women decision-making. Inadequate competency level may be due pre-service training but possibly structural operational facility characteristics continuing professional development. Investment action these findings are needed when developing designing in-service training. Trial registration: PACTR202006793783148-June 17th, 2020.