Safe hospital environment — patient safety

The aim of the study is to improve the quality of medical services in the maternity hospital while observing the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime at all stages of the work of specialists. Results. The basic principles of epidemiology, the main directions of surveillance and control of nosocomial infections were studied, measures taken to improve the quality of obstetric care were assessed, an action plan for the prevention of nosocomial infections was considered, and the level of knowledge and skills of nurses in infectious safety issues was assessed. Conclusion. To improve the safety of medical care, complex systemic efforts are needed, including a wide range of professional, organizational, legal and psychological measures to improve the treatment and diagnostic process, to ensure real conditions for risk management, including the safety of the use of drugs and the use of medical equipment., sanitary and epidemiological control, the safety of clinical practice and a safe environment (technogenic, fire-fighting, anti-terrorist, etc.) in health care institutions.

Critical obstetric conditions during pandemic (COVID-19) and pre-pandemic years

Aim. To assess the structure of critical obstetric conditions and maternal mortality in Transbaikal Region in pandemic (COVID-19) and pre-pandemic years (2020 and 2019, respectively).Materials and Methods. We retrospectively analysed “near miss” (NM) and maternal deaths (MD) in 2019 and 2020, further calculating the severe maternal outcome ratio (SMOR), the summary indicator which includes both NM and MD per 1000 live births.Results. In a pandemic year (2020), we observed an increase in SMOR in comparison with a pre-pandemic year (3.0 vs 2.0, respectively). In 2019, maternal mortality was exclusively caused by obstetric complications, while extragenital pathology (cardiovascular disease and COVID-19) was responsible for that in 2020. However, the main causes of «near miss» in 2019 and 2020 were similar, including obstetric haemorrhage because of placental abruption and severe pre-eclampsia. Maternal near-miss mortality ratio (MNM/MD) increased from 7.3: 1 in 2019 to 11.3: 1 in 2020, and mortality index (MD/(MNM + MD) × 100) reduced from 12.0 to 8.1. Therefore, fewer women with life-threatening conditions died in 2020 as compared with 2019, indicating a better quality of obstetric care.Conclusion. Analysis of the critical obstetric conditions can probably find regional issues of maternal healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and propel the policy makers to find additional resources to minimise maternal morbidity and mortality.

Access to and Quality of Healthcare for Pregnant and Postpartum Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, obstetric care has adopted new precautions to ensure services can be maintained for pregnant women. The aim of this study was to describe access to and quality of obstetric care for pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors that predict quality of care at this time.Methods: Between May 3 and June 28, 2020, we recruited women who were pregnant or within the first 6 months after delivery to participate in an online survey. This included questions on access to obstetric healthcare (type and place of health care provider, changes to obstetric appointments/services, appointment preferences) and the Quality of Prenatal Care Questionnaire (QPCQ).Results: Of the 917 eligible women, 612 (67%) were pregnant and 305 (33%) were in the first 6 months after delivery. Sixty-two percent (n = 571) reported that COVID-19 had affected their healthcare; appointments were rearranged, canceled or occurred via virtual means for 29% (n = 166), 29% (n = 167), and 31% (n = 175) of women, respectively. The majority preferred to physically attend appointments (74%; n = 676) and perceived the accompaniment of birth partners as important (77%; n = 471). Sixty-two percent (n = 380) were permitted a birth partner at delivery, 18% (n = 111) were unsure of the rules while 4% (n = 26) were not permitted accompaniment. During pregnancy, QPCQ was negatively associated with disruption to obstetric services including exclusion or uncertainty regarding birth partner permissions [F(7, 433) = 11.5, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.16] while QPCQ was negatively associated with inadequate breastfeeding support postpartum [F(1, 147) = 12.05, p = 0.001, R2 = 0.08].Conclusion: Pregnant and postpartum have experienced disruption in their access to obstetric healthcare. Perceived quality of obstetric care was negatively influenced by cancellation of appointment(s), suspension of services and exclusion of birth partners at delivery. During this time, continuity of care can be fulfilled via virtual and/or phone appointments and women should receive clear guidance on changes to services including birth partner permissions to attend delivery.

Evidence-based implementation of normal childbirth: what are the obstacles? (qualitative study)

Evidence-based is a very effective strategy to improve the quality of midwifery services. One of the most frequently problems faced is the gap between midwifery practices that are in accordance with the procedures (based on evidence-based) with clinical care practices that occur in the clinic. The purpose of this study was to explore in-depth the obstacles to the implementation of evidence-based normal childbirth, which are the position of delivery, monitoring and documenting delivery by using partographs in the Independent Practice of Midwives of Gunungkidul District, Yogyakarta.This research was a qualitative research with a phenomenological descriptive approach. The participants of this study were midwives who had the Independent Midwife Practice (PMB) consisting of 7 informants. Participant selection in this study used a purposive sampling technique with convenience sampling and identification of obstacles used was the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data collection used was semi-structured interviews and observations. Data analysis used was a thematic analysis.The interview and observation of delivery assistance is done at the Independent Midwife Practice Center (PMB). The position of delivery that was often used by patients was lithotomy and left slant, and the application of evidence-based monitoring and documentation using partograph was still not optimal. This was because there were several obstacles in its application, which were obstacles from patients, families, midwives, and obstacles from the organization. The impact of these obstacles was that it can reduce the quality of obstetric care in patients according to evidence-based. The evaluation of clinical practice based on evidence-based by the organization and the existence of feedback from patients to midwives are expected to improve the quality of service to patients.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Severe Postpartum Hemorrhage: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Although maternal deaths are rare in developed regions, the morbidity associated with severe postpartum hemorrhage remains a major problem. To provide new insight into severe postpartum hemorrhage, we analyzed data of women giving birth in Guangzhou Medical Centre for Critical Pregnant Women, which receiveda large quantity of critically ill obstetric patients from other hospitals of Southern China. Methods: In this study, we conducted a retrospective cohort by using the criteria of severe maternal morbidities, which was defined by estimation of blood loss volume and use of blood transfusion≥4 units, to determine the prevalence, risk factors and short-term complications of severe postpartum hemorrhage. Results: Severe postpartum hemorrhage was observed in 532 mothers (1.56%) among the total population of 34 178 mothers. Placental related cause (55.83%) was the major identified cause of severe postpartum hemorrhage, while uterine atony without associated retention of placental tissues accounted for 38.91%. The risk factors for severe postpartum hemorrhage were maternal age<18 years, previous cesarean section, history of postpartum hemorrhage, conception through in vitro fertilization, pre-delivery anemia, stillbirth, prolonged labor, placenta previa, placental abruption, placenta accrete spectrum and macrosomia. The prevalence rates of admission to ICU, hysterectomy, acute renal failure and sepsis were significantly higher in women with severe postpartum hemorrhage. Conclusion:The results of this study suggested that severe postpartum hemorrhagecould be adopted as an indicator to assess the quality of obstetric care because of its severity and potential lethality. Extra vigilance during the antenatal and peripartum periods is needed to identify women who have risk factors and enable early intervention to prevent severe postpartum hemorrhage. It’s important to remember that we have to prepare for all mothers giving birth, as some get severe postpartum hemorrhagewithout any known risk factors.

Determinants of Maternal Near Miss in Western Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Analysis of maternal near miss events and identification of factors resulting in maternal death are vital to improve the quality of obstetric care in any given setting. This study is aimed to determine the magnitude of maternal miss and identify its determinants.METHODS: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study design was used. Sixty one maternal near misses (as cases) and 122 mothers who had a normal obstetric outcome (as controls) at obstetrics and gynecology ward of Nekemte Referral Hospital were included from May 1st , 2018 to July 31st, 2018. The criteria set by the World Health Organization were used to identify maternal near miss cases. The data were collected via face-to-face interviews using pretested structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 22. For every case, two controls were recruited. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used. A 95% CI and p-value of <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.RESULT: The magnitude of maternal near miss was 4.97%. Factors including multigravidity (AOR= 3.84, 95% CI: 1.23-11.91), lack of antenatal care (AOR=6.02, 95% CI: 1.55-23.28), delays in accessing health facility (AOR=12, 95% CI: 2.55-56.57) and induction of labor (AOR =9.4, 95% CI: 2.97-29.71) were strongly associated with maternal near miss. Hypertension during pregnancy (40.9%) and obstetric hemorrhage (39.3%) were identified as the major causes of maternal near miss.CONCLUSION: The magnitude of maternal near miss was high but lower compared to magnitude in other parts of Ethiopia, and numerous preventable determinant factors were identified.

Certified Nurse Midwives as Teachers of Family Medicine Residents

Background and Objectives: The high quality of obstetric care provided by certified nurse midwives (CNMs) has led some to hypothesize that collaboration with CNMs may encourage more family medicine (FM) residents to subsequently practice maternity care. Our goal was to understand the current state of CNM involvement in FM resident education. Methods: We conducted two surveys: one to a random sample of 180 FM program directors, and one to 147 CNMs involved in medical education. The surveys examined the nature, prevalence, and attitudes regarding CNM involvement in FM residency training. Results: The surveys’ response rate was 59% from FM program directors and 58% from CNMs. Thirty-six percent of FM directors reported no CNM involvement in their residency programs, 26% reported minimal interaction, and only 6% reported a fully integrated model with CNMs on faculty. Eighty-eight percent of CNMs and 64% of program directors reported a prefence for increased interaction. Programs with highly involved CNMs reported 33% of graduates subsequently practicing prenatal care, with only 13% of graduates practicing in programs with low CNM involvement (P&lt;.003). However, there was no difference in those providing inpatient maternity care. Thirty-one percent of FM program directors and 25% of CNMs felt that physicians and CNMs have different ideas about how to treat patients; 26% of FM program directors who worked with midwives felt that CNMs should not be involved in residency curriculum planning. Conclusions: CNM participation in FM residency education is very limited. Our study identified a gap between the current state and the preferences of CNMs and FM program directors for greater educational collaboration. Residency program director attitudes may contribute to the low rate of collaboration between the two fields.

ASSISTANCE TO PLANNED HOME CHILDBIRTH: PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORY AND SPECIFICITIES OF THE OBSTETRIC NURSE CARE

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the professional trajectory of obstetric nurses, who work in planned home childbirth. Method: a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, conducted with 12 obstetric nurses who work in planned home childbirth. The participants were recruited using the non-probabilistic Snowball Sampling technique. In this perspective, semi-structured interviews were used, applied during the months of August to November 2018, in private places in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The collected data were submitted to content analysis in the thematic modality. Results: the research pointed out the value of experience and professional training - important milestones - in the setting of planned home childbirth, and motivators for the work of the professionals, as they enable autonomy. It is also emphasized the need for the obstetric nurse to acquire different skills for home childbirth, not covered during the training process. Conclusion: the results consolidate that obstetric nurses, who work in planned home childbirth and have a professional trajectory focused on the constant theoretical improvement associated with an approximation with “experts” in the area, provide experience, safety and quality of obstetric care, as well as autonomous action, in this care-related setting.

Educational hypermedia in nursing assistance at birth: building and validation of content and appearance

ABSTRACT Objective: to build an educational hypermedia about nursing care at usual risk birth and to perform validation of content and appearance. Method: methodological research carried out following the following stages: content and planning of modules; media production and organization of tutorial units; organization of student space, tutor and communication between them; availability of hypermedia; assessment by experts in nursing and informatics; and implementation of proposed suggestions. Results: educational hypermedia showed to be a validated material, since it presented an optimum index of global content of 0.97 and statistical significance in the binomial test for the content and appearance. Conclusion: it is believed that the use of this material with undergraduate students in nursing will contribute to the quality of obstetric care, considering that it is an illustrated technology capable of favoring teaching-learning about normal humanized childbirth.