Assessment of the Availability and Accessibility of Emergency Obstetric Care Services in Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The availability of emergency obstetric care services is measured by the number of facilities that perform all the signal functions in relation to the size of the population. When personnel have carried out the seven signal functions of basic emergency obstetric care services in the 3-month period before the assessment, the facility is considered to be a fully functioning basic facility. This study assessed the availability and accessibility of Emergency Obstetrics Care (EmOC) Service provision.
Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital among 246 women presenting with obstetric emergency using client exit interview, check list and record review from an adapted UNDP/WHO/UNICEF EMOC performance standard for hospital. Data analysis was done with SSPS version 20 and Permission was obtained from the hospital and consent from the clients.
Result: The study revealed that the laboratory was in good shape with a score of 11 out of the 15 points. In the labour ward, the percentage availability was 63.3%. In the theatre, percentage availability was 85.4%. The hospital offers comprehensive EmOC service. The Obstetrics and Gynaecology department had only 11 medical doctors, 126 nurse-midwives training, 1 anaesthesiologist, 1 pharmacist and few other auxiliary workers. Out of the total of 204 health personnel in this department, only 13 (6.4%) were trained in EmOC service.
Conclusion: The human resources availability and equipments needed for the provision of EmOC services were inadequate when compared with the performance standard adopted. Geographical access was poor as majority of the respondents had to travel over long distances to utilize the facility. Therefore, there is need for the staff to be trained on EmOC among others.