Effectiveness of lifesaving skills training and improving institutional emergency obstetric care readiness in Lam Dong, Vietnam.
Essential obstetric care is promoted as the prime strategy to save women's lives in developing countries. We measured the effect of improving lifesaving skills (LSS) capacity in Vietnam, a country in which most women deliver in health facilities. A quasi-experimental study was implemented to assess the impact of LSS training and readiness (availability of essential obstetric equipment, supplies, and medication) on the diagnosis of life-threatening obstetric conditions and appropriate management of labor and birth. The intervention (LSS training and readiness) was provided to all clinics and hospitals from 1 of 3 demographically similar districts in southcentral Vietnam, to hospitals only in another district, with the third district serving as the comparison group. Detection of life-threatening obstetric conditions increased in both experimental clinics and hospitals, but the intervention only improved the management of these conditions in hospitals. Management of life-threatening obstetric conditions is most effective in hospitals. The intervention did not clearly benefit women delivering in clinics.
nancy.sloan@tufts.edu
Nancy L
NL
Sloan
Thi Nhu Ngoc
TN
Nguyen
Trong Hieu
TH
Do
Charlotte
C
Quimby
Beverly
B
Winikoff
Goli
G
Fassihian
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014744:Vietnam