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External cephalic version in East, Central, and Southern Africa
Author(s) -
Mukaindo Abraham M.,
Wanyonyi Sikolia Z.,
Stones William R.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.10.025
Subject(s) - medicine , external cephalic version , maternity care , descriptive statistics , patient safety , family medicine , nursing , pregnancy , health care , breech presentation , economic growth , statistics , genetics , mathematics , biology , economics
Objective To evaluate the views of maternity care providers in East, Central, and Southern Africa on external cephalic version (ECV), and its determinants, with the aim of drawing lessons for practice. Methods In February 2009, a cross‐sectional survey using self‐administered semi‐structured questionnaires was conducted among delegates attending a regional conference of obstetricians and gynecologists. Descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken, and comments were analyzed for themes. Results Of the 70 questionnaires issued to eligible delegates, 64 were fully completed (response rate 91%). Seventy‐nine percent of respondents did not offer ECV. Approximately a third (31%) of the practitioners offered elective vaginal breech delivery. Clinicians offering ECV did so at varying gestational ages. Clinicians not offering ECV gave various reasons including concerns about the procedure's safety and lack of training and experience with it, policy restrictions, medico‐legal concerns, clinician or client reluctance, and poor results with the procedure. Conclusion Overall, ECV is not widely practiced in East, Central, and Southern Africa, mainly owing to concerns related to safety and policy. Efforts aimed at reviving ECV in these regions should address these concerns. A conceptual framework of such efforts is proposed herein.