"Why did our baby die soon after birth?"-Lessons on neonatal death in rural Cambodia from the perspective of caregivers.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal deaths represent around half the deaths of children less than five-years old in Cambodia. The process from live birth to neonatal death has not been well described. This study aimed to identify problems in health care service which hamper the reduction of preventable neonatal deaths in rural Cambodia. METHODS: This study adopted a method of qualitative case study design using narrative data from the verbal autopsy standard. Eighty and forty villages were randomly selected from Kampong Cham and Svay Rieng provinces, respectively. All households in the target villages were visited between January and February 2017. Family caregivers were asked to describe their experiences on births and neonatal deaths between 2015 and 2016. Information on the process from birth to death was extracted with open coding, categorized, and summarized into several groups which represent potential problems in health services. RESULTS: Among a total of 4,142 children born in 2015 and 2016, 35 neonatal deaths were identified. Of these deaths, 74% occurred within one week of birth, and 57% were due to low-birth weight. Narrative data showed that three factors should be improved, 1) the unavailability of a health-care professional, 2) barriers in the referral system, and 3) lack of knowledge and skill to manage major causes of neonatal deaths. CONCLUSION: The current health system has limitations to achieve further reduction of neonatal deaths in rural Cambodia. The mere deployment of midwives at fixed service points such as health centers could not solve the problems occurring in rural communities. Community engagement revisiting the principle of primary health care, as well as health system transformation, is the key to the solution and potential breakthrough for the future.

Collaborative Care of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An Innovative Partnership to Serve Rural Pediatric Patients.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral health disorder in childhood that causes significant impairments in quality of life, home relationships, and school success. Despite a substantial evidence base and corresponding practice guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics that support use of behavioral therapy to treat ADHD, affected patients infrequently receive therapy. This article will review the causes of underuse of behavioral therapy and methods to overcome these barriers such as integrating behavioral health care, thereby creating a pediatric patient-centered medical home. Additionally, a novel practice model of a behavioral health care collaboration being piloted in a rural pediatric office will be presented, including methods to screen, assess, and treat ADHD patients and families within the comfort of the primary care office.

Performance and self-perceived competencies of enrolled nurse/midwives: a mixed methods study from rural Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Tanzania is experiencing a severe shortage of human resources for health, which poses a serious threat to the quality of health care services particularly in rural areas. Task shifting has been considered a way to address this problem. However, since a large percentage of health care providers in rural setting is comprised of Enrolled Nurse/Midwives (ENMs), most of the health care tasks are shifted to them. This article analyzes the performance and self-perceived competencies of ENMs at the dispensary level; the lowest health facility in Tanzania. Performance refers to routine duties performed by ENMs, and self-perceived competence means self-perceived proficiency in performing nursing/midwifery and medical duties. METHODS: This was a mixed methods study conducted in rural Tanzania. A purposeful sample of twelve (12) informants (six ENMs; two Community Leaders [CLs] and four Dispensary In-charges [DIs]) was recruited for semi-structured interviews. The interviews were supplemented with quantitative data from 59 ENMs. Both thematic and descriptive analysis approaches were used. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: (1) 'Approval of the performances of ENMs in meeting community health needs' underscores important services the community members got from ENMs at dispensaries. (2) 'Experienced difficulties of meeting community health needs' indicate the problems ENMs encountered while providing services to the community. In striving to serve a large number of demanding clients without adequate medical equipment and supplies, sometimes the ENMs ended up with prescription errors (3) 'Appreciating the performances and competencies of ENMs' shows the acknowledgement of community members towards ENMs' performance and competencies within and beyond their scope of practice. The community members as well as ENMs and their supervisors knew that ENMs must sometimes provide care that is outside their scope of training and competency. Overall, the performance among ENMs above 38 years of age (P < 0.05) and participants of professional development courses (P < 0.01) was high. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight performance and self-perceived competencies of ENMs in struggling to meet community health needs. Additionally, these results highlight the health care system shortfalls in supporting and developing an adequate number of qualified health care professionals so that health care needs of all citizens, including those in rural areas, are met.

Addressing Rural Health Challenges Head On.

Providing health care to patients and families living in rural America presents significant challenges, but comes with unique rewards. The physician who chooses a rural life typically cares for an underserved and aging population, which is often less healthy and affluent than its urban and suburban counterparts. At the same time, rural clinicians feel deeply connected to their patients and their communities. Physicians cite strong doctor-patient relationships as a primary motivator to practice in a rural setting, in addition to lower cost of living and slower pace of life1. Those who choose primary care specialties also enjoy the challenge of caring for multiple, interrelated aspects of health for their patients and community. During Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences' (KCU) century-long history, we have offered our osteopathic medical students the opportunity to learn in rural areas during the third and fourth years. As our new, state-of-the-art medical school campus opens in Joplin, Missouri, we will build on our commitment to rural health by offering first- and second-year KCU-Joplin students training opportunities in rural settings, and expanding third- and fourth-year rural clinical rotations. The rich experience to learn rural medicine offers the potential to connect medical students, patients and community in new and exciting ways, building on the firm foundation of osteopathic medical training grounded in strong patient-centered primary care.

Identification of gaps for implementation science in the HIV prevention, care and treatment cascade; a qualitative study in 19 districts in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 20 years, countries in sub Saharan Africa have made significant strides in the implementation of programs for HIV prevention, care and treatment. Despite, the significant progress made, many targets set by the United Nations have not been met. There remains a large gap between the ideal and what has been achieved. There are several operational issues that may be responsible for this gap, and these need to be addressed in order to achieve the targets. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify gaps in the HIV prevention, care and treatment cascade, in a large district based HIV implementation program. We aimed to identify gaps that are amenable for evaluation using implementation science, in order to improve the delivery of HIV programs in rural Uganda. METHODS: We conducted key informant (KI) interviews with 60 district health officers and managers of HIV/AIDS clinics and organizations and 32 focus group discussions with exit clients seeking care and treatment for HIV in the 19 districts. The data analysis process was guided using a framework approach. The recordings were transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were read back and forth and codes generated based on the framework. RESULTS: Nine emerging themes that comprise the gaps were identified and these were referral mechanisms indicating several loop holes, low levels of integration of HIV/TB services, low uptake of services for PMTCT services by pregnant women, low coverage of services for most at risk populations (MARPs), poor HIV coordination structures in the districts, poor continuity in the delivery of pediatric HIV/AIDS services, limited community support for orphans and vulnerable (OVC's), inadequate home based care services and HIV services and support for discordant couples. The themes indicate there are plenty of gaps that need to be covered and have been ignored by current programs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has identified several gaps and suggested several interventions that should be tested before large scale implementation. The implementation of these programs should be adequately evaluated in order to provide field evidence of effectiveness and replicability in similar areas.

Dementia knowledge transfer project in a rural area.

INTRODUCTION: Rural Scotland has an ageing population. There has been an increase in the number of people with dementia and as the proportion of people aged over 75 years continues to rise, this will increase still further. The Scottish Government has produced a dementia strategy and implementing this will be a challenge for rural Scotland. METHODS: Transferring academic knowledge into practice is challenging. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership was formed between NHS Highland and the University of Stirling. A literature review was undertaken of the rural dementia literature; local services were surveyed and described; and interviews were undertaken with people with dementia and carers. Work was conducted on training, diagnostic service provision and local policy. Throughout the project, a collaborative approach was used, which aimed at the joint production of knowledge. RESULTS: Involving University staff in local service development had a substantial impact. Reviewing existing research knowledge and setting it in the context of local services, and of experience of service use, allowed the relevant priorities to be identified. As well as identifying training needs and providing training, the work influenced local decisions on diagnostic service design and standards, and on policy. CONCLUSION: This embedded engagement model appeared to produce more rapid change than traditional models of use of academic knowledge.

Understanding home-based neonatal care practice in rural southern Tanzania.

In order to understand home-based neonatal care practices in rural Tanzania, with the aim of providing a basis for the development of strategies for improving neonatal survival, we conducted a qualitative study in southern Tanzania. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions and case studies were used through a network of female community-based informants in eight villages of Lindi Rural and Tandahimba districts. Data collection took place between March 2005 and April 2007. The results show that although women and families do make efforts to prepare for childbirth, most home births are assisted by unskilled attendants, which contributes to a lack of immediate appropriate care for both mother and baby. The umbilical cord is thought to make the baby vulnerable to witchcraft and great care is taken to shield both mother and baby from bad spirits until the cord stump falls off. Some neonates are denied colostrum, which is perceived as dirty. Behaviour-change communication efforts are needed to improve early newborn care practices.

Traditional birth home attendance and its implications for malaria control during pregnancy in Nigeria.

A longitudinal survey was carried out to assess prevalence of malaria infection among attendees of a traditional birth home (TBH) in the metropolis of Abeokuta, Nigeria. Malaria prevalence was 62.4%, and various degrees of anaemia were recorded in 80.3% of pregnant women. Patronage by pregnant teenagers was 10.8%, with all of them anaemic and 73.9% infected with malarial parasites. Knowledge of malaria transmission and prevention were generally poor, with the emphasis placed on exposure to direct rays and heat from the sun. Avoidance of the sun's heat was therefore considered to be an effective preventive measure; another was the consumption of specially prepared and packaged herbal tea, which the pregnant women were expected to drink daily. Only 36.3% of the women associated malaria infection with mosquito bites. The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) was not recorded among the women, although a large proportion (91.3%) showed a willingness to buy ITNs. The cost of receiving antenatal care at the TBH was higher than that in public hospitals. Patronage of TBHs was observed to be linked more with cultural beliefs than poverty. This study suggests that there is a need to extend malaria control interventions to women attending TBHs.

Implementation of a patient medication assistance program in a community pharmacy setting.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the establishment of a community pharmacy-based patient medication assistance program to improve access to medications by indigent patients, lessen the burden placed on physicians in obtaining such medications, reduce the amount of money spent on such medications by area charitable organizations, and improve therapeutic outcomes by improving patient adherence with therapy. SETTING: Supermarket-based pharmacy in Ashland, Ohio. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Community pharmacy. PRACTICE INNOVATION: A partnership was developed among Buehler's Pharmacy #3, United Way of Ashland County, and United Way Affiliates to establish a community pharmacy-based medication assistance program to help indigent patients obtain needed medications through manufacturer assistance programs and discount card programs. INTERVENTIONS: Following initial screening by a United Way affiliate agency, patients are seen by appointment by a Certified Pharmacy Technician at the pharmacy. An electronic application is completed, printed, and sent to the patient's physician for signatures and medication orders. The paperwork is returned to the pharmacy, where it is completed, signed by the patient, and filed. The patient pays the United Way agency $10 and the pharmacy $15 for these services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of prescriptions dispensed cumulatively from April 1, 2003, to July 31, 2003, within the program, patients' cumulative savings, and community response. RESULTS: Between April 1, 2003, and July 31, 2003, a total of 123 patients and 47 physicians were served, and 512 medications valued at $112,139.00 were applied for and/or procured. The time lapse between filing of paperwork and receipt of medications varies from 1 to 6 weeks. While some manufacturers ship product to physicians or directly to patients, the process works better when the product is sent to the pharmacy, where it can be added to the patient's profile, screened for drug interactions and allergies, and dispensed with proper labels and counseling. CONCLUSION: Establishing a community pharmacy-based medication assistance program is an innovative spin on the traditional physician office, advocacy, or health-system setting and was found to be beneficial to the patients, physicians and other health care providers, and the community it served.

The safety of home birth: the farm study.

Pregnancy outcomes of 1707 women, who enrolled for care between 1971 and 1989 with a home birth service run by lay midwives in rural Tennessee, were compared with outcomes from 14,033 physician-attended hospital deliveries derived from the 1980 US National Natality/National Fetal Mortality Survey. Based on rates of perinatal death, of low 5-minute Apgar scores, of a composite index of labor complications, and of use of assisted delivery, the results suggest that, under certain circumstances, home births attended by lay midwives can be accomplished as safely as, and with less intervention than, physician-attended hospital deliveries.

[Usefulness of Thuridan in the control of fly larvae in animal houses]. / Przydatnosc preparatu Thuridan do zwalczania larw much w pomieszczeniach gospodarskich.

The studies were carried out in a pig farm and in a dairy cattle farm in South Poland. Thuridan was applied as 0.3% suspension in 3 replications in 7 days interval. The efficacy of Thuridan was established using fly--catchers which were hung on the same places--once before and three times after Thuridan was used. In the animal houses 86% less flies were found.

Indicators of accessibility to primary health care coverage in rural Odukpani, Nigeria.

Indicators of accessibility were investigated in Odukpani Local Government Area using a structured questionnaire administered to mothers or heads of households in the study area. The indicators considered included proportion of births attended by trained health personnel, proportion of children with diarrhea treated with oral rehydration therapy (ORT), distance from home to regular immunization site, and acceptability of primary health care services to the target population. Sociodemographic data revealed a typical developing country population profile and surprisingly high literacy rate (57.8%) relative to the national rate, an observation which may account for the appreciable level of awareness.

PIP: In the Akpabuyo zone in the Odukpani local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria, data collected from a survey of 90 households, from health facilities, the State Ministry of Health, and the Ministries of Local Government and of Lands and Surveys were analyzed to examine accessibility to primary health care (PHC) coverage. Children under 5 years old and reproductive age women comprised 58% of the population. 5 km from home to PHC coverage was considered accessible and all the children lived within this distance. Most respondents (67.8%) considered an immunization site to be not far. The majority (88.9%) used PHC health facilities, suggesting a relatively high rate of acceptability. Health personnel made home visits to 55.5% of respondents. Many adults' work schedules limited their ability to take their children to health sites (52.2% were farmers and 18.9% were traders). Thus, inappropriate scheduling of immunizations and maternal and child health services likely explained low immunization coverage (5.3-12.7%). This coverage was low despite the relatively high literacy rate in Akpabuyo (57.8%). Trained health personnel attended 98.9% of all deliveries, but traditional birth attendants (TBAs) conducted 61.3% of all deliveries, suggesting inaccessibility to health services. Further, 3.7% of deliveries at health facilities resulted in newborn death compared to 9.8% of TBA deliveries. This indicated a need for appropriate supervision and health education of TBAs. Only 39 cases of diarrhea existed. Most (87.2%) received oral rehydration therapy (ORT), reflecting the relatively high literacy rate and awareness levels. Yet, just 2.9% received a home-based sugar/salt solution, suggesting a need to increase ORT education for mothers. Almost all respondents (97%) noted that no village health or development committee existed, indicating a low level of community participation.

Access to health care in Nourivier, Namaqualand.

We surveyed health in Nourivier, Namaqualand, to see whether poverty prevented people from obtaining the care they needed. We interviewed families at 65 of the 74 households, and obtained satisfactory health information from 37. Health in Nourivier is generally good; 93% of the children aged 0-5 years are fully immunized. However, 20 children in this age group (35%) were below the third percentile (weight for age, National Center for Health Statistics' standards), while the clinical condition of 4 (7%) gave cause for concern. The water supply and sanitation were satisfactory. Twenty-one individuals reported having been ill in the preceding 2 months. People treat themselves before resorting to the herbalist, the clinic nurse or the general practitioner (GP). Money for transport to the GP in Garies and antenatal care and hospital delivery has to be scraped up by the population, although the police in Kamieskroon will take people to hospital in an emergency. The mean monthly cash income in 35 households was R194 (range R0-1-035). People there would like a nurse in the village or a weekly visit by a doctor. Their tradition of self-care is a sound basis for a village-based primary health care service.

A realistic midwifery service for Papua New Guinea.

Health care centre for all confinements in Papua New Guinea should be the preferred objective of the midwifery service. This need not be expensive in the rural setting if the example is followed of some existing health care centres. The use of intravenous ergometrine at the end of the second stage is advocated, based upon experience in numerous institutions.