title: Quality of anaesthesia for Caesarean sections: a cross-sectional study of a university hospital in a low-income country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of anaesthesia for Caesarean sections at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed an instrument consisting of 40 quality indicators using an expert group process based on the existing literature. Using the instrument, we observed 50 Caesarean sections. Twenty-eight of the indicators were structural indicators, such as essential drugs, oxygen supply and anaesthetic equipment. Twelve were process indicators such as evaluation of airway, blood pressure assessment or insertion of an intravenous line.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median patient age was 28.5 years. A total of 75% (range 61-82%) of the structural indicators were present in the operating theatres, and 55% (range 33-83%) of the process indicators were performed. The neonates' median Apgar score was 9 (range 3-10). Seven babies required ventilation, four babies were stillborn, and all others were alive at follow-up 2 days after partus. All mothers were alive 2 days post-surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low process score suggests that quality improvement initiatives should focus on the processes of anaesthesia for Caesarean sections rather than new drugs and equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Surgical Services, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.|Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Surgical Services, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.|Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Surgical Services, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jörnvall
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Surgical Services, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.|Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irestedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulungu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Surgical Services, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.|Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000592:standards*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013636:Tanzania; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caesarean section; Tanzania; Tanzanie; anaesthesia; anestesia; anesthésie; cesárea; césarienne