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Access to safe emergency obstetric care using volunteer public transport workers in Nigeria: Approach, results and challenges
The objective of this paper is to describe the approach, results and challenges of the ETS scheme.
Method: A review of the primary data collected via the routine monitoring system of the scheme in five Local Government Areas in Kaduna, Nigeria was done.SPSS19.0 was used for analysis. Data quality checks were instituted at different levels of the information system to ensure high data accuracy.
Results: 933(100%) pregnant women in need of obstetric care were transported by 84 ETS volunteer drivers between March 2012 and August 2013. 712 (76.3%) of these women were transported by the ETS drivers for various emergency obstetric emergencies during the period under review. The commonest (12.7%) obstetric emergency for which the drivers were called for is “antepartum hemorrhage”. The average cost incurred by the drivers per emergency case transported is $3.70.
Conclusion: The ETS model is a relevant, effective and sustainable scheme for improving access to emergency obstetric care in resource poor settings. Volunteer driver attrition is a challenge facing the scheme. It is recommended that the scheme be replicated in resource poor settings.
Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economicsProgram planning
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the approach, results and challenges of the obstetric Emergency Transport Scheme.
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked over the last four years as a Monitoring and Evaluation/Knowledge Management Specialist in an MNCH systems strengthening program in Northern Nigeria. I was part of the design and implementation team of the obstetric Emergency Transport Scheme that this paper describes and I particularly designed the information system to monitor its result. I am the principal author of an MNCH related research paper already accepted for publication by the Nigerian Journal of medicine.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes
| Name of Organization | Clinical/Research Area | Type of relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership for Transforming Health Systems 2 | Health Systems Strenghtening | Employment (includes retainer) |
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.