Retrospective Study of Quality Care During Labour in Maternity Wards in Khomas Region, Namibia

Authors

  • Jonia Nghifikwa University of Namibia, School of Nursing and Public Health
  • Linda Ndeshipandula Lukolo University of Namibia, Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Tuwilika Endjala University of Namibia, Faculty of Health Science

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32642/jshss.v9i1&2.1924

Keywords:

quality midwifery care, partograph, labour, maternal deaths, neonatal deaths, skilled birth attendance

Abstract

Quality of midwifery care can be defined as care delivered by midwives which is safe, effective, efficient, accessible, acceptable, patientcentred, equitable, and results in a positive pregnancy outcome. In 2013, the Government of the Republic of Namibia through the Ministry of Health and Social Services implemented the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Maternal and Neonatal Mortality. The Commission reports that there are several factors impeding maternal and newborn health in the country. Furthermore, the commission noted that poor quality of midwifery care during labour was one of those factors. This research assessed the quality of midwifery care by reviewing maternity records and analysing the standard of midwifery care rendered during the first stage of labour of the women who gave birth at maternity ward at intermediate and referral hospitals. The present study is retrospective with a descriptive quantitative design conducted on 653 maternity records at these hospitals. Early opening of partographs is recommended as it could lead to early identification of problems and intervention plans. This study’s findings show that 402 (61.6%) partographs were mostly opened with women in the active phase of labour. A few partographs, 33 (5.1%), were opened in the latent phase of labour. However, of the partographs that were opened, the study’s results revealed that not all were managed according to the WHO guidelines. Poor documentation of midwifery interventions and care was noted, suggesting poor midwifery care. Of most deliveries, 499 (76.4%) were normal vaginal deliveries, followed by 151 (23.1%) who had caesarean section deliveries. The rest had assisted deliveries with one breech delivery. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that midwifery care rendered during labour at the studied hospitals was substandard. 

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Author Biographies

Jonia Nghifikwa, University of Namibia, School of Nursing and Public Health

Ms Jonia Nghifikwa, Lecturer in the department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of Namibia, Namibia. Email: jnghifikwa@unam.na

Linda Ndeshipandula Lukolo, University of Namibia, Faculty of Health Sciences

0 Linda Ndeshipandula Lukolo is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine at the University of Namibia. She is a holder of a PhD in Nursing Science with a focus on Community Health - educational program to empower parents to part take in sexuality education of their children, from University of Namibia; Masters Curation (MCUR): Community Health; Stellenbosch University, (US), Cape Town South Africa. Focus on Adolescent Sexual health; Bachelor of Nursing Education: Honors Degree, University of Namibia; Bachelor of Nursing Science: Nursing Education and Nursing Management, University of Namibia; and Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing Science: (General nursing science, Psychiatric, Community Health and midwifery) University of Namibia; Diploma in Health System Management (Galilee International Management Institute, (Israel). She has a wide high institution teaching experience for over 25 years. Her research interests are sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child welfare, and HIV and AIDS and Community based education. She has published 27 peer reviewed papers and four book chapters as well as supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. E-mail: lnlukolo@unam.na

Tuwilika Endjala, University of Namibia, Faculty of Health Science

Tuwilika Endjala, is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Science, School of nursing, department of Community and mental Health department, University of Namibia. She is a holder of PhD in Public Health, from the University of Namibia. Email address: tendjala@unam.na

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Published

2023-12-30

How to Cite

Nghifikwa, J., Lukolo, L. N., & Endjala, T. (2023). Retrospective Study of Quality Care During Labour in Maternity Wards in Khomas Region, Namibia . Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(1&2), 104–128. https://doi.org/10.32642/jshss.v9i1&2.1924