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Post‐Ebola situational assessment of opportunities for capacity building at the national obstetrics and gynecology referral hospital in Sierra Leone
Author(s) -
Chan Seay Rachel,
Koroma Alimamy P.,
Coleman Jenell,
Sampson John,
Koroma Lucy,
Ugwa Emmanuel A.,
Anderson Jean
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12374
Subject(s) - sierra leone , medicine , referral , capacity building , workforce , reproductive health , human resources , program evaluation , nursing , health care , needs assessment , family medicine , population , socioeconomics , environmental health , economic growth , public administration , management , sociology , political science , economics , social science
Objective To describe a site assessment of the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital ( PCMH ; Freetown, Sierra Leone), the national referral center for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health ( RMNCAH ) services and logical site for focused efforts to train and expand the RMNCAH workforce in Sierra Leone. Methods In April 2016, a mixed‐methods assessment approach was used involving facility observation and staff interviews using the WHO 's Service Availability and Readiness Assessment ( SARA ) tool. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained. Results PCMH had 150 inpatient beds and provided care for more than 4600 deliveries in 2015. The number of maternal deaths increased at a rate of approximately 40% per month from January 2015 to June 2016 ( P= 0.005). Key factors requiring attention were identified in the categories of infrastructure and supplies, RMNCAH services, and human resources. Conclusion SARA provided a framework for identifying strengths and weaknesses in infrastructure and supplies, RMNCAH services, and human resources. The process described might serve as a model for evaluating obstetrics and gynecology training facilities in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Human resources are currently insufficient for the volume and complexity of patients at PCMH . Numerous opportunities exist for strengthening healthcare services and capacity building in Sierra Leone.