scholarly journals Factors for late initiation of antenatal care in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saidi Mgata ◽  
Stephen Oswald Maluka
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background Antenatal care (ANC) provided by a trained health care provider is important for monitoring pregnancy thereby reducing potential risks for the mother and child during pregnancy and delivery. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least four ANC visits to all pregnant women. While the proportion of women who attend at least one ANC in low-income countries is high, most pregnant women start their first ANC attendance very late. In Tanzania only 24% of pregnant women start their first ANC attendance before the fourth month of pregnancy. While factors for the utilization of antenatal care in general have been widely studied, there is paucity of studies on the factors affecting timing of the first ANC attendance. This study aimed to understand individual, community, and health system factors that lead to the delay in seeking ANC services among pregnant women in Ilala Municipal in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania. Methods A qualitative exploratory study, using in-depth interviews with 20 pregnant women and five health care workers was conducted in three different health facilities in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Results Individual perceptions of antenatal care, past experience with pregnancy, fear of pregnancy disclosure, and socio-cultural beliefs were the key individual and social factors for late ANC attendance. Shortage of trained health care workers, lack of spouse’s escort and health providers’ disrespect to pregnant women were the main health system barriers to early ANC attendance. Conclusions This study concludes that community members should be sensitized about the importance of early ANC attendance. Additionally, while spouse’s escort policy is important for promoting PMTCT, the interpretation of the policy should not solely be left to the health providers. District and regional health officials should provide correct interpretation of this policy.

scholarly journals A mixed reception: perceptions of pregnant adolescents’ experiences with health care workers in Cape Town, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronel Sewpaul ◽  
Rik Crutzen ◽  
Natisha Dukhi ◽  
Derrick Sekgala ◽  
Priscilla Reddy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Pregnant Adolescents ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Antenatal Clinics ◽  
Antenatal Services

Abstract Background Maternal mortality among adolescent mothers in South Africa is higher than many middle-income countries. This is largely attributable to conditions that can be prevented or managed by high quality antenatal care. The way in which pregnant adolescents are treated at antenatal clinics influences their timely utilization of antenatal services. This qualitative study reports on the experiences of pregnant adolescents with health care workers when accessing antenatal care. Methods Pregnant girls aged 13–19 (n = 19) who attended public health care facilities that provide Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) services in Cape Town, South Africa were recruited. Four face to face in-depth interviews and four mini focus group discussions were undertaken, facilitated by a topic guide. Thematic analyses were used to analyse the data. Results Experiences that reinforce antenatal attendance, such as respectful and supportive treatment, were outweighed by negative experiences, such as victimization; discrimination against being pregnant at a young age; experiencing disregard and exclusion; inadequate provision of information about pregnancy, health and childbirth; clinic attendance discouragement; and mental health turmoil. Conclusions There is evidence of a discordant relationship between the health care workers and the pregnant adolescents. Adolescents feel mistreated and discriminated against by the health care workers, which in turn discourages their attendance at antenatal clinics. Maternal health care workers need to receive support and regular training on the provision of youth friendly antenatal care and be regularly evaluated, to promote the provision of fair and high quality antenatal services for adolescent girls.

Interventions for Improving Health Care Workers’ Retention in Epidemics – a Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Zarei Jelyani ◽  
Sadra Valiee ◽  
Mohammad Kia ◽  
Ali jajarmizadeh ◽  
Sajad Delavari
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Health System ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Introduction: Generally, in Epidemics, such as COVID-19, health care workers (HCWs) faces many problems which lead to a shortage and weakening of human resources in the health system. Therefore, using effective strategies to retain human resources is one of the most important issues during outbreaks. This study aims to collect and classify the proposed interventions to strengthen human health resources and their sustainability during epidemics through scoping review.Methods: In this scoping review study, 2300 studies were retrieved through searching international databases –PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. The retrieved studies were screened, and finally, 50 studies were included for analysis. The strategies were classified using inductive qualitative content analysis.Results: Most of the studies were conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom. The target population in 39 studies was all health workers; five studies were on physicians, five studies on nurses, and only one study on dentists. The proposed interventions were classified into five categories: preparation, protection, support, treatment, and feedback. Discussion: Most studies focused on providing interventions in one or two dimensions of human resources, but these interventions were summarized and categorized in this review. Therefore, this study has a holistic view of various dimensions of strengthening and maintaining human health resources during epidemics by providing a thematic map. Considering that human beings are multidimensional, policymakers and managers of the health system should use a set of interventions that simultaneously cover different aspects of their needs to strengthen and maintain HCWs.

scholarly journals Ethiopian Health Care Workers’ Insights into and Responses to Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy—A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3745
Author(s):  
Bosena Tebeje Gashaw ◽  
Berit Schei ◽  
Kari Nyheim Solbraekke ◽  
Jeanette H. Magnus
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
In Pregnancy

Violence against women is a global pandemic, with the potential to spread through generations. Intimate partner violence has impacts on women’s sexual, reproductive, and psycho-social health. It can occur during pregnancy and adversely affect the health of both mother and child. Health care workers involved in antenatal care can have a unique role in identifying intimate partner violence and in intervening, preventing, and mitigating its consequences. In this study, the objective was to explore Ethiopian health care workers’ insights of and responses to intimate partner violence in pregnancy. Using an exploratory design, this qualitative study includes ten semi-structured interviews of health care workers representing different antenatal care centers in Jimma, Ethiopia. The content analyses of translated interview notes were conducted with Atlas.ti7 software, (Atlas.ti Scientific Software Development Gmbh, Berlin). The health care workers shared their insights of the consequences of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in addition to their experience with and responses to the victims. There was a limited understanding of the extent of the adverse impacts of intimate partner violence on pregnancy outcomes, as well as the potential long-term health implications. The informants described how they only gave medical treatment for obstetric complications or visible trauma during pregnancy. There was no formal referral to or linkages with other resources. Women’s empowerment and systemic changes in the health care, including training and capacity building, clear guidelines addressing management of intimate partner violence in pregnancy, and inclusion of intimate partner violence screening tools in the Ethiopian antenatal care chart/card, were recommended by the informants. The adverse impacts of intimate partner violence on pregnancy outcomes were poorly understood by the Ethiopian health care workers in this study. They offered limited assistance to the victims and recommended changes in the routine antenatal care (ANC) and health care systems. They identified various policy initiatives focusing on women’s empowerment to reduce intimate partner violence and its complications especially during pregnancy.

scholarly journals A super-spreader of SARS-CoV-2 in incubation period among health-care workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaojie Wei ◽  
Yufeng Yuan ◽  
Zhenshun Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Doctor Who ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Potential Sources ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractSince the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China in December 2019, it has been characterized as a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO). It was reported that asymptomatic persons are potential sources of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We present an outbreak among health-care workers incited by a doctor who cared a patient with COVID-19 in a Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei, China, which indicates existence of super-spreader even during incubation period.

scholarly journals Breast Cancer Knowledge Assessment of Health Workers in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 387-394
Author(s):  
Liese C.C. Pruitt ◽  
Stella Odedina ◽  
Imaria Anetor ◽  
Tolulope Mumuni ◽  
Helen Oduntan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Breast Cancer Knowledge

PURPOSE Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and in low- to middle-income countries late-stage diagnosis contributes to significant mortality. Previous research at the University College Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria, on social factors contributing to late diagnosis revealed that many patients received inappropriate initial treatment. METHODS The level of breast cancer knowledge among health practitioners at various levels of the health system was assessed. We developed a tool tailored to local needs to assess knowledge of symptoms, risk factors, treatments, and cultural beliefs. The recruitment included doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in public hospitals, physicians and pharmacists in private practice, nurses and health care workers from primary health care centers, community birth attendants, and students in a health care field from state schools. RESULTS A total of 1,061 questionnaires were distributed, and 725 providers responded (68%). Seventy-eight percent were female, and > 90% were Yoruba, the dominant local ethnic group. The majority were Christian, and 18% were Muslim. Median knowledge score was 31 out of 56, and the differences in scores between health care worker types were statistically significant ( P < .001). Nearly 60% of the participants believed breast cancer is always deadly. More than 40% of participants believed that keeping money in the bra causes breast cancer, and approximately 10% believed that breast cancer is caused by a spiritual attack. CONCLUSION Our questionnaire revealed that, even at the tertiary care level, significant gaps in knowledge exist, and knowledge of breast cancer is unacceptably low at the level of community providers. In addition to efforts aimed at strengthening health systems, greater knowledge among community health care workers has the potential to reduce delays in diagnosis for Nigerian patients with breast cancer.

Self-reported influenza vaccination rates among health care workers in a large health system

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 574-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Patricia Nowalk ◽  
Chyongchiou J. Lin ◽  
Richard K. Zimmerman ◽  
Dwight E. Fox ◽  
Mahlon Raymund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Care Workers

Despite awareness of recommendations, why do health care workers not immunize pregnant women?

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anat Gesser-Edelsburg ◽  
Yaffa Shir-Raz ◽  
Samah Hayek ◽  
Sharon Aassaraf ◽  
Lior Lowenstein
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals The Good COPD Guidelines

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-16
Author(s):  
Dennis Bowie
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
The Third ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Prevalent Disease ◽  
Health Organization

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is becoming an increasing problem for health care workers. The World Health Organization predicts that in the year 2020, this disease will be the fifth most prevalent disease worldwide, up from 12th place, and it will be the third most common cause of death, up from sixth place in 1997 (1). Hospitalization and mortality rates for COPD continue to rise in Canada (2). Therefore, the burden of COPD on Canadians, the health care system and physicians is obvious.

scholarly journals Modeling Predictive Age-Dependent and Age-Independent Symptoms and Comorbidities of Patients Seeking Treatment for COVID-19: Model Development and Validation Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingxiang Huang ◽  
Dina Radenkovic ◽  
Kevin Perez ◽  
Kari Nadeau ◽  
Eric Verdin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
World Health ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The World

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage and burden hospitals around the world. The epidemic started in Wuhan, China, and was subsequently recognized by the World Health Organization as an international public health emergency and declared a pandemic in March 2020. Since then, the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have had an unparalleled effect on all aspects of life. OBJECTIVE With increasing total hospitalization and intensive care unit admissions, a better understanding of features related to patients with COVID-19 could help health care workers stratify patients based on the risk of developing a more severe case of COVID-19. Using predictive models, we strive to select the features that are most associated with more severe cases of COVID-19. METHODS Over 3 million participants reported their potential symptoms of COVID-19, along with their comorbidities and demographic information, on a smartphone-based app. Using data from the >10,000 individuals who indicated that they had tested positive for COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, we leveraged the Elastic Net regularized binary classifier to derive the predictors that are most correlated with users having a severe enough case of COVID-19 to seek treatment in a hospital setting. We then analyzed such features in relation to age and other demographics and their longitudinal trend. RESULTS The most predictive features found include fever, use of immunosuppressant medication, use of a mobility aid, shortness of breath, and severe fatigue. Such features are age-related, and some are disproportionally high in minority populations. CONCLUSIONS Predictors selected from the predictive models can be used to stratify patients into groups based on how much medical attention they are expected to require. This could help health care workers devote valuable resources to prevent the escalation of the disease in vulnerable populations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document