Challenges of Medical Error Reporting in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.

Background: Medical error is defined as "an act of omission or commission in planning or execution that contributes or could contribute to an unintended result". It is a serious public health problem that can pose a threat to patient safety and if managed it can be an opportunity to an organizational learning. This study aimed to assess the challenges of error reporting. Methods: Explorative qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted. The study was conducted among healthcare providers in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital. The study participants were selected purposely based on the patient contact hour and had served in this hospital for long period of time. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were undertaken. From each wards, three in-depth interviews were held. Case team leaders and other healthcare providers were identified and interviewed. The data were analyzed thematically. Results: Twenty-one healthcare providers were recruited for this study. Majority of the participants, 12 (57.1%) were nurses and midwives and as to marital status, 18 (85.7%) were married. Challenges for reporting medical errors were identified as perceived lack of confidentiality of the medical errors, perceived punitive measures, lack of good reporting system, perceived fear of losing acceptance, lack of learning culture from errors, information asymmetry, mass-media publication of medical errors, avoidance of conflict and attitude of health professionals. Conclusion: There were system and individual related challenges for reporting of medical errors. Healthcare managers should enhance medical error reporting for organizational learning by addressing these system and individual factors.

Challenges Faced by Female Out-of-School Adolescents in Accessing and Utilizing Sexual and Reproductive Health Service: A Qualitative Exploratory Study in Southwest, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the limited access to sexual and reproductive health service, out-of-school-adolescents become at a higher risk for early marriage, early pregnancy early parenthood, and poor health outcomes over their life course. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by female out-of-school adolescents in accessing sexual and reproductive health service in Bench-Sheko zone. METHODS: A community-based qualitative exploratory study was carried out from November 01/2020 to December 01/2020 among selected out-of-school adolescents residing in rural and urban districts of Bench-Sheko Zone, and healthcare professionals working in the local health centers. FGD participants and healthcare providers were purposely selected for this study. Eight focus group discussions and 8 in-depth interviews were conducted among female out-of-school adolescents, and health care professionals, respectively. RESULT: The study revealed that out-of-school adolescents encounter several challenges in accessing sexual reproductive health service which includes socio-cultural barriers, health system barriers, perceived legal barrier, inadequate information regarding sexual reproductive health service, and low parent-adolescent communication. CONCLUSION: The finding suggests the need to engage community influencers (religious leaders, community leaders, and elders) in overcoming the socio-cultural barriers. Program planners and policy makers have better make an effort to create adolescent friendly environments in SRH service areas. Furthermore, implementing community-based awareness raising programs, parental involvement in sexual reproductive health programs, and encouraging parent-adolescent communication on sexual reproductive health issues could improve sexual reproductive health service utilization by out-of-school adolescents in the study area.

A Culturally Sensitive and Supportive Maternity Care Service Increases the Uptake of Maternity Waiting Homes in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Maternal delays in utilization of emergency obstetric care are impacting on a high maternal mortality, especially in the poor resource countries including Ethiopia. Different strategies are designed and employed to reduce those maternal delays, and one of such strategies employed to overcome the geographic barriers and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes is utilization of maternity waiting homes (MWHs). Studies related to the utilization of MWHs and associated factors are limited in Ethiopia and there were none in the study area. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the utilization of maternity waiting homes and associated factors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted, using multistage sampling technique. Logistic regression analysis with 95% CI for odds ratio (OR) was used to identify significant factors. RESULTS: A total of 379 women participated in this study, making a response rate of 85%. Of the total participants, 42.5% (95% CI=38-48) of women utilized MWHs. After controlling for potential confounders, women's decision-making capacity (AOR=12.74; 95% CI=6.18-26.26), women having someone who can care for their children and/or husband at home (AOR=2.71; 95% CI=1.44-5.09), MWHs offering food service (AOR=4.03; 95% CI=2.07- 7.85), offering and/or allowing women to practice their own cultural ceremony (allowing to cook their own food type, porridge, coffee, etc) (AOR=9.55; 95% CI=4.45-20.47), and women's attitude towards MWHs (AOR=0.09; 95% CI=0.03-0.23) were factors significantly associated with the utilization of MWHs. CONCLUSION: Compared to its contribution in reducing maternal and perinatal mortality, the utilization of MWHs was low in this study area. The integration of culturally sensitive and supportive maternity services, along with community participatory approach, would increase utilization of MWHs and consequently contribute in achieving the SDGs related to maternal and neonatal health.