Quality of Midwifery Care in Uganda. Case Study Soroti District

A mid wife is a person trained to provide care to women during pregnancy, labour and after delivery; trained to recognize problems. This study determined the quality of care provided by midwives in Soroti District, Uganda. Specifically, it identified training needs, gaps in knowledge and other barriers to accessibility of emergency obstetric care services in the area. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to assess two hospitals, two health centers, and four sub-dispensaries over a two-month period. Data were collected from patients and attendants, midwives, pregnant women exiting from antenatal clinics, and health unit records. The main outcome measures were the ability of midwives to provide antenatal care at a minimum standard, or recall causes, signs, symptoms or the management of common obstetric complications; and patients' and patient attendants' perceptions of care received. Overall, the antenatal care offered was routine, with no emphasis on women at risk. The main factors responsible for the poor quality of care were inadequate pre-service and in-service training, lack of technical support supervision and absence of standard treatment guidelines.
Key Words: Quality Care, Midwifery Care, Soroti District, Uganda