Emergency Obstetric Care: Urban Versus Rural Comparison of Health Workers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in River State, Nigeria- Implications for Maternal Health Care in Rivers State
Year: 2013
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In Nigeria, an estimated 545 maternal deaths occur for every 100,000 live births. Within the country, gaps exist between urban and rural areas, with more maternal deaths occurring in the rural areas. The knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Emergency Obstetric care (EmOC) among health care providers, are important determinants of the quality and outcome of care. The study determined and compared the KAP of EmOC among health care providers in urban and rural public secondary health facilities in River state, South-south Nigeria; and also assessed the availability of resources for EmOC provision.Information was obtained from 304 doctors and nurses, using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire and a facility checklist was used to obtain relevant information about resource availability for EmOC in 13 health facilities. Data were analysed using EPI-INFO version 3.5.1. Findings showed that more (28.9%) respondents from urban facilities had good knowledge of EmOC than their rural counterparts (16.4%). More respondents (96.1%) from rural facilities had positive attitude compared to the urban counterparts, (93.4%), however more urban respondents (77%) reported good practice compared to 40.8% in rural facilities. Approximately a third of respondents (urban: 28.5%, rural: 33.1%) reported having obstetric protocols in their facilities. A mean of 7.5 obstetricians/gynecologists were employed in the 4 urban compared to 0.3 in the 9 rural facilities. More deficits in meeting the criteria for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC) were seen in the rural than the urban facilities; as at study time, all rural facilities neither had capacity for managing complications that could arise from pregnancy-induced hypertension nor a blood bank. Findings revealed that urban health workers demonstrated better knowledge and practices than their rural counterparts. Resources were inadequate in both areas albeit better in urban facilities. Regular training and re-training of staff on EmOC, with adequate and equitable distribution of resources between urban and rural facilities is recommended.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W141897236