A Critical Investigation of Birth Preparedness and Emergency Readiness Plans of Antenatal Clinic Attendees in General Hospital Enugu State
CHAPTER ONE
THE STUDY OBJECTIVE
The overall goal of the research is to critical investigate Birth Preparedness And Emergency Readiness Plans Of Antenatal Clinic Attendees In General Hospital Enugu State. Specifically, the study is set to
- Determine the level of birth preparedness among expectant women in Enugu State.
- Identify what it takes to be well-prepared for child birth.
- Assess the extent of emergency preparedness in terms of childbirth
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of BP/CR
Women and newborns need timely access to skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum/newborn period. However, too often, their access to care is impeded by delays — delays in deciding to seek care, delays in reaching care, and delays in receiving care (WHO, 2009). These delays have many causes, including logistic and financial concerns, unsupportive policies, and gaps in services, as well as inadequate community and family awareness and knowledge about maternal and newborn health issues.
These delays include:
Delays in deciding to seek care may be caused by failure to recognize signs of complications, failure to perceive the severity of illness, cost considerations, previous negative experiences with the health care system and transportation difficulties. Delays in reaching care may be created by the distance from a woman’s home to a health facility or provider, the condition of roads and a lack of emergency transportation. Delays in receiving care may result from unprofessional attitudes of providers, shortages of supplies and basic equipment, a lack of health care personnel, and poor skills of health care providers. The causes of these delays are common and predictable. However, in order to address them, women and families and the communities, providers, and health facilities that surround them — must be prepared in advance and ready for rapid emergency action.
Birth preparedness and Complication Readiness (BP/CR)
BP/CR is the process of planning for normal birth and anticipating the actions needed in case of an emergency (Department of Community Medicine, 2009). Responsibility for BP/CR must be shared among all safe motherhood stakeholders – policy makers, facility managers, providers, communities, families and women- because a coordinated effort is needed to reduce the delays that contribute to maternal and new born deaths. Each stakeholder has an important role to play – from creating appropriate policies to strengthening facilities and providers to implementing effective community systems to adopting informed practices at home. Together, stakeholders can plan for the care that women and newborns need during pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum/newborn period, prepare to take action in emergencies, and build an enabling environment for maternal and newborn survival. Birth preparedness can do much to improve maternal health outcomes. Birth preparedness helps ensure that women can reach professional delivery care when labour begins. In addition, birth preparedness can help reduce the delays that occur when women experience obstetric complications, such as recognizing the complication and 21 deciding to seek care, reaching a facility where skilled care is available and receiving care from qualified providers at the facility (Family Care International, FCI, 2013).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain critical investigation of birth preparedness and emergency readiness plans of antenatal clinical in general hospital. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of critical investigation of birth preparedness and emergency readiness plans of antenatal clinical in general hospital
Summary
This study was on critical investigation of birth preparedness and emergency readiness plans of antenatal clinical in general hospital. Three objectives were raised which included; Determine the level of birth preparedness among expectant women in Enugu State, identify what it takes to be well-prepared for child birth and assess the extent of emergency preparedness in terms of childbirth. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from general hospital Enugu. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study has revealed that majority of the pregnant women in the study area made adequate plans in anticipation of normal delivery, but an extremely small proportion were ready for emergencies. The major reason for this is that most of the pregnant women do not want to be associated with complications or undesirable events; hence no plans were made in anticipation of possible complications. It is therefore recommended that despite all the efforts to provide fully equipped health facilities for basic and emergency obstetrics care, pregnant women in the study area need repeated and sustained reorientation to always anticipate and plan for untoward events in pregnancy
Recommendation
There is a need for slight shift in focus on maternal and child care projects of government. Investments in improving awareness on danger signs appear to have paid off, however improving access by lowering financial requirements is imperative.
- There is also a need to improve transportation facilities suitable for pregnant women at the rural communities. This will significantly improve outcomes especially when emergencies occur and the need for referrals arise.
- Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) should focus on improving access to cheaper medical services for majority of low income earners in rural communities.
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