Quality assessment of the antenatal program for anaemia in rural Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of antenatal care with respect to anaemia, a common health problem, in a developing country.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Rufiji rural district, coastal Tanzania.


METHODS
Three hundred and seventy-nine consecutively enrolled pregnant women from 16 randomly selected antenatal clinics, including 10 dispensaries, four rural health centres and two hospitals.


METHODS
We noted availability of infrastructure for management of anaemia, observed provider-client interaction, and interviewed women who attended antenatal clinics. An observer and health workers measured haemoglobin levels and their measurements were compared.


METHODS
Quality of antenatal care, anaemia in pregnancy, and maternal satisfaction.


RESULTS
Half of the rural health clinics had no instrument to measure haemoglobin. The majority (58%) of pregnant women were not checked for anaemia at all, 10% were clinically examined, and 37% had haemoglobin assessed. The agreement between health workers' (using Tallqvist) and the observers' (using HemoCue) measurements of haemoglobin was poor to fair. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 10.5 g/dl) and severe anaemia (< 7.0 g/dl) was 58% and 6.2%, respectively, but overall only 4% of the anaemic pregnant women had specific action taken within the antenatal care program.


CONCLUSIONS
Deficiencies in quality of screening, diagnostic information, and individual counselling need to be addressed before any impact of the antenatal care programme on anaemia can be expected.
Urassa
David P
DP
Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Durassa@muchs.ac.tz
Carlstedt
Anders
A
Nystrom
Lennarth
L
Massawe
Siriel N
SN
Lindmark
Gunilla
G
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006452:Hemoglobinometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology