Resource availability for the management of maternal sepsis in Malawi, other low-income countries, and lower-middle-income countries

Abdu, Mohammed, Wilson, Amie, Mhango, Chisale, Taki, Fatima, Coomarasamy, Arri and Lissauer, David ORCID: 0000-0002-7878-2327 (2018) Resource availability for the management of maternal sepsis in Malawi, other low-income countries, and lower-middle-income countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS, 140 (2). pp. 175-183.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12350

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the availability of key resources for the management of maternal sepsis and evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) recommendations in Malawi and other low-resource settings.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional study was conducted at health facilities in Malawi, other low-income countries, and lower-middle-income countries during January-March 2016. English-speaking healthcare professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, midwives, and administrators) completed a questionnaire/online survey to assess the availability of resources for the management of maternal sepsis.<h4>Results</h4>Healthcare centers (n=23) and hospitals (n=13) in Malawi showed shortages in the resources for basic monitoring (always available in 5 [21.7%] and 10 [76.9%] facilities, respectively) and basic infrastructure (2 [8.7%] and 7 [53.8%], respectively). The availability of antibiotics varied between Malawian healthcare centers (9 [39.1%]), Malawian hospitals (8 [61.5%]), hospitals in other low-income countries (10/17 [58.8%]), and hospitals in lower-middle-income countries (39/41 [95.1%]). The percentage of SSC recommendations that could be implemented was 33.3% at hospitals in Malawi, 30.3% at hospitals in other low-income countries, and 68.2% at hospitals in lower-middle-income countries.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The implementation of existing SSC recommendations is unrealistic in low-income countries because of resource limitations. New maternal sepsis care bundles must be developed that are applicable to low-resource settings.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Lower-middle-income countries, Low-income countries, Low-resource settings, Malawi, Maternal sepsis, Resources, Surviving Sepsis Campaign
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	25 May 2023 11:29
Last Modified:	25 May 2023 11:29
DOI:	10.1002/ijgo.12350
Open Access URL:	https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3170688