Perioperative Management and Outcomes After Cesarean Section-A Cross-Sectional Study From Rural Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean sections (c-sections), the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide, are essential in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. There is a paucity of research studies on c-section care and outcomes in rural African settings. The objective of this study was to describe demographic characteristics, clinical management, and maternal and neonatal outcomes among women receiving c-sections at Kirehe District Hospital (KDH) in rural Rwanda. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all women aged ≥ 18 y residing in KDH catchment area who delivered by c-section at KDH between April 1 and September 30, 2017. Demographic and clinical characteristics of these women and their newborns were collected using patient interviews and medical chart extraction. Descriptive analyses were performed, and frequency and percentages are reported. RESULTS: Of the 621 women included in the study, 45.7% (n = 284) were aged 25-34 y; 42.2% (n = 262) were married; 67.5% (n = 419) had primary education; and 75.7% (n = 470) were farmers by occupation. Burundian refugees living in the nearby Mahama Refugee Camp comprised 13.7% (n = 85) of the study population. The most common indication for c-section was having undergone a c-section previously (31.9%, n = 198), followed by acute fetal distress (30.8%, n = 191). Among those with previous c-section as the sole indication for surgery, 85.4% presented as either urgent or emergent cases. Postoperatively, 67.7% spent less than 4 d at the hospital and 96.1% had no postoperative complications before discharge. Approximately 10% (59/572) of neonates were admitted to the neonatal unit, with the most common reason being neonatal infection (59.6%, n = 31). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that previous delivery via c-section was the primary indication for c-section and that most of these cases were emergent or urgent on presentation. This study highlights the need for further research to explore the feasibility, safety, and appropriateness of vaginal birth after cesarean in rural district hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Variability of water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions and the potential infection risk following cesarean delivery in rural Rwanda.

Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is critical for the prevention of postpartum infections. The aim of this study was to characterize the WASH conditions women are exposed to following cesarean section in rural Rwanda. We assessed the variability of WASH conditions in the postpartum ward of a district hospital over two months, the WASH conditions at the women's homes, and the association between WASH conditions and suspected surgical site infection (SSI). Piped water flowed more consistently during the rainy month, which increased availability of water for drinking and handwashing (p < 0.05 for all). Latex gloves and hand-sanitizer were more likely to be available on weekends versus weekdays (p < 0.05 for both). Evaluation for suspected SSI after cesarean section was completed for 173 women. Women exposed to a day or more without running water in the hospital were 2.6 times more likely to develop a suspected SSI (p = 0.027). 92% of women returned home to unsafe WASH environments, with notable shortfalls in handwashing supplies and sanitation. The variability in hospital WASH conditions and the poor home WASH conditions may be contributing to SSIs after cesarean section. These relationships must be further explored to develop appropriate interventions to improve mothers' outcomes.

Non-Obstetric Surgical Care at Three Rural District Hospitals in Rwanda: More Human Capacity and Surgical Equipment May Increase Operative Care.

BACKGROUND: Most mortality attributable to surgical emergencies occurs in low- and middle-income countries. District hospitals, which serve as the first-level surgical facility in rural sub-Saharan Africa, are often challenged with limited surgical capacity. This study describes the presentation, management, and outcomes of non-obstetric surgical patients at district hospitals in Rwanda. METHODS: This study included patients seeking non-obstetric surgical care at three district hospitals in rural Rwanda in 2013. Demographics, surgical conditions, patient care, and outcomes are described; operative and non-operative management were stratified by hospitals and differences assessed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 2660 patients who sought surgical care at the three hospitals, most were males (60.7 %). Many (42.6 %) were injured and 34.7 % of injuries were through road traffic crashes. Of presenting patients, 25.3 % had an operation, with patients presenting to Butaro District Hospital significantly more likely to receive surgery (57.0 %, p < 0.001). General practitioners performed nearly all operations at Kirehe and Rwinkwavu District Hospitals (98.0 and 100.0 %, respectively), but surgeons performed 90.6 % of the operations at Butaro District Hospital. For outcomes, 39.5 % of all patients were discharged without an operation, 21.1 % received surgery and were discharged, and 21.1 % were referred to tertiary facilities for surgical care. CONCLUSION: Significantly more patients in Butaro, the only site with a surgeon on staff and stronger surgical infrastructure, received surgery. Availing more surgeons who can address the most common surgical needs and improving supplies and equipment may improve outcomes at other districts. Surgical task sharing is recommended as a temporary solution.

The Effect and Feasibility of mHealth-Supported Surgical Site Infection Diagnosis by Community Health Workers After Cesarean Section in Rural Rwanda: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The development of a surgical site infection (SSI) after cesarean section (c-section) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, including Rwanda. Rwanda relies on a robust community health worker (CHW)-led, home-based paradigm for delivering follow-up care for women after childbirth. However, this program does not currently include postoperative care for women after c-section, such as SSI screenings. OBJECTIVE: This trial assesses whether CHW's use of a mobile health (mHealth)-facilitated checklist administered in person or via phone call improved rates of return to care among women who develop an SSI following c-section at a rural Rwandan district hospital. A secondary objective was to assess the feasibility of implementing the CHW-led mHealth intervention in this rural district. METHODS: A total of 1025 women aged ≥18 years who underwent a c-section between November 2017 and September 2018 at Kirehe District Hospital were randomized into the three following postoperative care arms: (1) home visit intervention (n=335, 32.7%), (2) phone call intervention (n=334, 32.6%), and (3) standard of care (n=356, 34.7%). A CHW-led, mHealth-supported SSI diagnostic protocol was delivered in the two intervention arms, while patients in the standard of care arm were instructed to adhere to routine health center follow-up. We assessed intervention completion in each intervention arm and used logistic regression to assess the odds of returning to care. RESULTS: The majority of women in Arm 1 (n=295, 88.1%) and Arm 2 (n=226, 67.7%) returned to care and were assessed for an SSI at their local health clinic. There were no significant differences in the rates of returning to clinic within 30 days (P=.21), with high rates found consistently across all three arms (Arm 1: 99.7%, Arm 2: 98.4%, and Arm 3: 99.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Home-based post-c-section follow-up is feasible in rural Africa when performed by mHealth-supported CHWs. In this study, we found no difference in return to care rates between the intervention arms and standard of care. However, given our previous study findings describing the significant patient-incurred financial burden posed by traveling to a health center, we believe this intervention has the potential to reduce this burden by limiting patient travel to the health center when an SSI is ruled out at home. Further studies are needed (1) to determine the acceptability of this intervention by CHWs and patients as a new standard of care after c-section and (2) to assess whether an app supplementing the mHealth screening checklist with image-based machine learning could improve CHW diagnostic accuracy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03311399; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03311399.

Diagnosing Post-Cesarean Surgical Site Infections in Rural Rwanda: Development, Validation, and Field Testing of a Screening Algorithm for Use by Community Health Workers.

Background: We aimed to develop and validate a screening algorithm to assist community health workers (CHWs) in identifying surgical site infections (SSIs) after cesarean section (c-section) in rural Africa. Methods: Patients were adult women who underwent c-section at a Rwandan rural district hospital between March and October 2017. A CHW administered a nine-item clinical questionnaire 10 ± 3 days post-operatively. Independently, a general practitioner (GP) administered the same questionnaire and assessed SSI presence by physical examination. The GP's SSI diagnosis was used as the gold standard. Using a simplified Classification and Regression Tree analysis, we identified a subset of screening questions with maximum sensitivity for the GP and CHW and evaluated the subset's sensitivity and specificity in a validation dataset. Then, we compared the subset's results when implemented in the community by CHWs with health center-reported SSI. Results: Of the 596 women enrolled, 525 (88.1%) completed the clinical questionnaire. The combination of questions concerning fever, pain, and discolored drainage maximized sensitivity for both the GPs (sensitivity = 96.8%; specificity = 85.6%) and CHWs (sensitivity = 87.1%; specificity = 73.8%). In the validation dataset, this subset had sensitivity of 95.2% and specificity of 83.3% for the GP-administered questions and sensitivity of 76.2% and specificity of 81.4% for the CHW-administered questions. In the community screening, the overall percent agreement between CHW and health center diagnoses was 81.1% (95% confidence interval: 77.2%-84.6%). Conclusions: We identified a subset of questions that had good predictive features for SSI, but its sensitivity was lower when administered by CHWs in a clinical setting, and it performed poorly in the community. Methods to improve diagnostic ability, including training or telemedicine, must be explored.

Using mobile health technology and community health workers to identify and refer caesarean-related surgical site infections in rural Rwanda: a randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, where rates of SSIs can reach 30%. Due to limited access, there is minimal follow-up postoperatively. Community health workers (CHWs) have not yet been used for surgical patients in most settings. Advancements in telecommunication create an opportunity for mobile health (mHealth) tools to support CHWs. We aim to evaluate the use of mHealth technology to aid CHWs in identification of SSIs and promote referral of patients back to healthcare facilities. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Prospective randomised controlled trial conducted at Kirehe District Hospital, Rwanda, from November 2017 to November 2018. Patients ≥18 years who undergo caesarean section are eligible. Non-residents of Kirehe District or patients who remain in hospital >10 days postoperatively will be excluded. Patients will be randomised to one of three arms. For arm 1, a CHW will visit the patient's home on postoperative day 10 (±3 days) to administer an SSI screening protocol (fever, pain or purulent drainage) using an electronic tablet. For arm 2, the CHW will administer the screening protocol over the phone. For both arms 1 and 2, the CHW will refer patients who respond 'yes' to any of the questions to a health facility. For arm 3, patients will not receive follow-up care. Our primary outcome will be the impact of the mHealth-CHW intervention on the rate of return to care for patients with an SSI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received ethical approval from the Rwandan National Ethics Committee and Partners Healthcare. Results will be disseminated to Kirehe District Hospital, Rwanda Ministry of Health, Rwanda Surgical Society, Partners In Health, through conferences and peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03311399.

Referral patterns and predictors of referral delays for patients with traumatic injuries in rural Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, 9 out of 10 patients lack access to timely operative care. Most patients seek care at district hospitals that often lack operative capacity, creating a need for referral. Delays in referrals contribute to substantial disability and death. This study assessed the predictors of delayed referrals for injured patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included injured patients, recommended for referral between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013, from 3 rural district hospitals in Rwanda. We defined delay as nonexecution of referral 2 days after referral recommendation. We performed a multivariate logistic regression using stepwise backward selection to identify the predictors of delayed referral. RESULTS: Of the 1,227 injured patients, 23.0% (n = 282) were recommended for referral. Of these, 36.5% (n = 103) had road traffic injuries and 53.6% (n = 151) were diagnosed with closed fractures/dislocation. Among 231 patients, 108 (46.8%) had a delay in referral execution. The predictors of delay included age >35 years (odds ratio = 2.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-5.50), closed fractures/dislocation (odds ratio = 16.37, 95% confidence interval: 3.13-85.78), admission to surgical wards (odds ratio = 10.25, 95% confidence interval: 2.70-38.82), and a duration ≥7 days from admission to referral recommendation (odds ratio = 4.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.38-16.63). CONCLUSION: Over 50% of referrals were completed in a timely fashion due to a strong referral system and a patient support program. Empowering district hospitals with trained staff and appropriate equipment could reduce the need for referral, and increasing surgeons at referral hospitals could reduce referral delays.

Improving quality in resource poor settings: observational study from rural Rwanda.

PROBLEM: Hospitals in rural Africa, such as in Rwanda, often lack electricity, supplies, and staff. In our setting, basic care processes, such monitoring vital signs, giving drugs, and laboratory testing, were performed unreliably, resulting in delays in treatment owing to lack of information needed for clinical decision making. DESIGN: Simple quality improvement tools, including plan-do-study-act cycles and process maps, were used to improve system level processes in a stepwise fashion; resources were augmented where necessary. SETTING: 50 bed district hospital in rural Rwanda. MEASUREMENT OF IMPROVEMENT: Three key indicators (percentage of vital signs taken by 9 am, drugs given as prescribed, and laboratory tests performed and documented) were tracked daily. Data were collected from a random sample of 25 charts from six inpatient wards. STRATEGY FOR CHANGE: Our intervention had two components: staff education on quality improvement and routine care processes, and stepwise implementation of system level interventions. Real time performance data were reported to staff daily, with a goal of 95% performance for each indicator within two weeks. A Rwandan quality improvement team was trained to run the hospital's quality improvement initiatives. EFFECTS OF CHANGES: Within two weeks, all indicators achieved the 95% goal. The data for the three objectives were analysed by using time series analysis. Progress was compared against time by using run chart rules for statistical significance of improvement, showing significant improvement for all indicators. Doctors and nurses subjectively reported improved patient care and higher staff morale. LESSONS LEARNT: Four lessons are highlighted: making data visible and using them to inform subsequent interventions can promote change in resource poor settings; improvements can be made in advance of resource inputs, but sustained change in resource poor settings requires additional resources; local leadership is essential for success; and early successes were crucial for encouraging staff and motivating buy-in.