Reducing fresh full term intrapartum stillbirths through leadership and accountability in a low-resource setting, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Loading...
Date
2017-07-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central Ltd
Abstract
Background: Stillbirths are distressing to the parents and healthcare workers. Globally large numbers of babies are
stillborn. A number of strategies have been implemented to try and reduce stillbirths worldwide. The objective of this
study was to assess the impact of leadership and accountability changes on reducing full term intrapartum stillbirths.
Methods: Leadership and accountability changes were implemented in January 2016. This retrospective cohort
study was carried out to assess the impact of the changes on fresh full term intrapartum stillbirths covering the period
6 months prior to the implementation date and 12 months after the implementation date. The changes included
leadership and accountability. Fresh full term stillbirths (>37 weeks gestation) occurring during the intrapartum stage
of labour were analysed to see if there would be any reduction in numbers after the measures were put in place.
Results: There was a reduction in the number of fresh full term intrapartum stillbirths after the introduction of the
measures. There was a statistical difference before and after implementation of the changes, 50% vs 0%, P = 0.025.
There was a reduction in the time it took to perform an emergency caesarean section from a mean of 30 to 15 min by
the end of the study, a 50% reduction.
Conclusions: Clear and consistent clinical leadership and accountability can help in the global attempts to reduce
stillbirth figures. Simple measures can contribute to improving perinatal outcomes.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Fresh, full, term, intrapartum, stillbirths, Leadership, Accountability, Perinatal, outcomes, Low-resource, settings, Mpilo, Central, Hospital
Citation
Ngwenya S. 2017. Reducing fresh full term intrapartum stillbirths through leadership and accountability in a low-resource setting, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe : BMC Research Notes 10 (1)