Year: 2024 | Month: January | Volume: 14 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 11-17
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240102
Healthcare Workers’ Self-Reported Competence in the Management of Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia at Primary Health Care Facilities in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Ade-Ojo, Idowu Pius1, Okunola, Temitope Omoladun2, Omoya, Sunday Olagoke3, Olaogun, Oluwole Dominic4, Aduloju, Peter Olusola5
1,2,3,4,5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Ade-Ojo, Idowu Pius
ABSTRACT
Background: Eclampsia remains an enigmatic obstetrics catastrophe that ranks second to obstetric hemorrhage as the leading cause of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Early detection of pre-eclampsia and emergency management of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are important in reducing morbidity and mortality from this life-threatening disease spectrum. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with competencies in the detection and emergency management of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia by Primary Healthcare workers in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire-based survey. Healthcare personnel working at four primary healthcare facilities completed self-administered questionnaires at a training session on Basic and Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal care (BemONC).
Results: The questionnaires were completed by 302 healthcare workers, the majority of whom were Community Extension Health Workers in Ekiti State. Among the participants, 68.2%, 2%, and 1% reported accurate detection, accurate emergency management, and accurate detection with the emergency management of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia respectively. The odds of self-reported accurate detection of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia is increased by 7 in those with more than 25 years of experience. Community Extension Care Workers were about 78% less likely to be able to detect Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia compared with doctors.
Conclusion: Although the majority of the healthcare personnel at the primary healthcare level could detect Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia, only a few reported the ability to institute accurate emergency management and referral protocol. Training and retraining of primary health care workers on essential and emergency obstetrics care are advocated.
Key words: Healthcare workers; Primary Health care; Competence; Pre-eclampsia; Eclampsia.