Quality medicines in maternal health: results of oxytocin, misoprostol, magnesium sulfate and calcium gluconate quality audits.

BACKGROUND: The high level of maternal mortality and morbidity as a result of complications due to childbirth is unacceptable. The impact of quality medicines in the management of these complications cannot be overemphasized. Most of those medicines are sensitive to environmental conditions and must be handled properly. In this study, the quality of oxytocin injection, misoprostol tablets, magnesium sulfate, and calcium gluconate injections was assessed across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. METHOD: Simple, stratified random sampling of health facilities in each of the political zones of Nigeria. Analysis for identification and content of active pharmaceutical ingredient was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography procedures of 159 samples of oxytocin injection and 166 samples of misoprostol tablets. Titrimetric methods were used to analyze 164 samples of magnesium sulfate and 148 samples of calcium gluconate injection. Other tests included sterility, pH measurement, and fill volume. RESULTS: Samples of these commodities were procured mainly from wholesale and retail pharmacies, where these were readily available, while the federal medical centers reported low availability. Approximately, 74.2% of oxytocin injection samples failed the assay test, with the northeast and southeast zones registering the highest failure rates. Misoprostol tablets recorded a percentage failure of 33.7%. Magnesium sulfate and Calcium gluconate injection samples recorded a failure rate of 6.8% and 2.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of particularly of oxytocin and misoprostol commodities was of substandard quality. Strengthening the supply chain of these important medicines is paramount to ensuring their effectiveness in reducing maternal deaths in Nigeria.

Maternal death and obstetric care audits in Nigeria: a systematic review of barriers and enabling factors in the provision of emergency care.

BACKGROUND: Maternal death reviews and obstetric audits identify causes and circumstances related to occurrence of a maternal death or serious complication and inform improvements in quality of care. Given Nigeria's high maternal mortality, the lessons learned from past experiences can provide a good evidence base for informed decision making. We aimed to synthesise findings from maternal death reviews and other obstetric audits conducted in Nigeria through a systematic review, seeking to identify common barriers and enabling factors related to the provision of emergency obstetric care. METHODS: We searched for maternal death reviews and obstetric care audits reported in the published literature from 2000-2014. A 'best-fit' framework approach was used to extract data using a structured data extraction form. The articles that met the inclusion criteria were assessed using a nine point quality score. RESULTS: Of the 1,841 abstracts and titles at initial screening, 329 full text articles were reviewed and 43 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Four types of barriers were reported related to: transport and referral; health workers; availability of services; and organisational factors. Three elements stand out in Nigeria as contributing to maternal mortality: delays in Caesarean section, unavailability of magnesium sulphate and lack of safe blood transfusion services. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric care reviews and audits are useful activities to undertake and should be promoted by improving the processes used to conduct them, as well as extending their implementation to rural and basic level health facilities and to the community. Urgent areas for quality improvement in obstetric care, even in tertiary and teaching hospitals should focus on organisational factors to reduce delays in conducting Caesarean section and making blood and magnesium sulphate available for all who need these interventions.

Eclampsia in Finland; 2006 to 2010.

INTRODUCTION: Eclampsia is a rare but serious threat to maternal and fetal well-being. Magnesium sulfate was introduced in Finland as management of eclampsia in the late 1990s. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of eclampsia in Finland after the increased use of magnesium sulfate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eclampsia diagnoses in Finland during 2006 to 2010 were retrieved from the national Medical Birth Register and the Care Register for Health Care. Medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: In 2006-10, 295 447 deliveries were registered in Finland and 46 women with eclampsia were identified. Hence, the incidence of eclampsia was 1.5 per 10 000 deliveries. The median gestational age at the time of eclampsia was 38 gestational weeks. There were no maternal deaths due to eclampsia, but 46% of the women had severe complications. Eighty-seven per cent received magnesium sulfate for treatment and 7% for prevention of eclampsia. The perinatal mortality rate was 8%. Thirty-four per cent of the newborns were preterm and 15% were small-for-gestational-age. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of eclampsia in Finland was very low. Increased use of magnesium sulfate probably contributed to the low incidence, as well as to the low number of recurrent seizures and prolonged complications. However, some women at risk of eclampsia still remain undetected and untreated. Seven percent had magnesium sulfate for prevention of eclampsia. Increased use of prophylactic magnesium sulfate might further reduce the incidence of eclampsia.

Status of emergency obstetric care in four districts of Punjab, Pakistan - results of a baseline assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the availability and quality of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in four districts of Punjab. METHODS: The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Attock, Gujranwala, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanewal districts of Pakistan's Punjab province. Data was collected in July 2012 from all District Headquarter Hospitals, Tehsil Headquarter Hospitals and selective Rural Health Centres (RHCs) using a pre-formatted questionnaire to assess availability of signal functions of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care, including staffing and equipment, number of births and women with complications, maternal case fatality rate and stillbirth rate. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In total, 32 health care facilities were surveyed: 14(43.75%) providing basic care and, 18(56.25) providing comprehensive obstetric care. All required signal functions were available at 4(22%) in the latter category, and 3(21%) facilities in the former category. Met need for Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care was 17.8%. Besides, there were 26 maternal deaths among the 1,482 women with recognised obstetric complications, indicating an overall case fatality rate for all districts of 1.75%. CONCLUSIONS: Continued efforts are needed to improve the availability and quality of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care through targeted skill-based training and provision of adequate drugs and equipment.

Factors influencing the use of magnesium sulphate in pre-eclampsia/eclampsia management in health facilities in Northern Nigeria: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Eclampsia remains a major cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. We examined facilitators and barriers to the use of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) in the management of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) in health facilities in Bauchi and Sokoto States in Nigeria. METHODS: Data were collected from 80 health facilities using a cross-sectional, mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) design. We assessed health facility readiness to manage PE/E and use MgSO4 as the drug of choice, through provider interviews, in-depth interviews with facility managers and an inventory of equipment and supply in facilities. Bivariate and qualitative data analyses were performed to isolate the principal enabling factors and barriers to the management of PE/E and use of MgSO4. RESULTS: The majority of health facility providers correctly mentioned MgSO4 as the drug of choice for the prevention and termination of convulsions in severe PE/E (65 %). Sixty-four percent of the health facilities had service registers available. About 45 % of providers had been trained on the use of MgSO4 for the management of PE/E. Regarding providers' practices, 45 % of respondents indicated that MgSO4 was used to prevent and treat convulsions in severe PE/E in their facilities. Barriers to management of PE/E included inadequate numbers of skilled providers, frequent shortages of MgSO4, lack of essential equipment and supplies, irregular supply of electricity and water, and non-availability of guidelines and clinical protocols at the health facilities. Technical support to providers was inadequate. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that a constellation of factors adversely affect the management of PE/E and especially the use of MgSO4 by service providers. Efforts to improve the management of PE/E in facilities should include integrated programs that substantially improve provider and facility readiness to manage PE/E for better maternal and newborn health outcomes in Northern Nigeria.

Facility and personnel factors influencing magnesium sulfate use for eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in 3 Indian hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors at the health facility and health professional levels that might hinder or facilitate the appropriate use of magnesium sulfate for the treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. METHODS: Seven focus group discussions were conducted with a purposively sampled group of obstetricians/gynecologists, medical residents, and nurses at 3 hospitals in Nagpur, India. Data were collected on facility and drug availability, criteria for diagnosis and management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, attitudes about magnesium sulfate use, and perceived barriers to the treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. RESULTS: Senior gynecologists seemed to encourage the use of magnesium sulfate, especially management prior to transfer to a higher facility. However, clinicians noted a lack of specific institutional guidelines on dose, timing, and indications, particularly in cases in which delivery was not imminent. In all facilities, service providers noted that their clinical care decisions were sometimes influenced by political and social factors, making management of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia cases difficult. Care was further challenged by limited drug availability, particularly at the tertiary-care center. CONCLUSION: Limited drug supply and lack of specific institutional guidelines, equipment, and trained staff hinder the translation of evidence-based policy on magnesium sulfate into practice.

Identifying barriers to the availability and use of Magnesium Sulphate Injection in resource poor countries: a case study in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are serious complications of pregnancy and major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. According to systematic reviews and WHO guidelines magnesium sulphate injection (MgSO4) should be the first -line treatment for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Studies have shown that this safe and effective medicine is unavailable and underutilized in many resource poor countries. The objective of this study was to identify barriers to the availability and use of MgSO4 in the Zambian Public Health System. METHODS: A 'fishbone' (Ishikawa) diagram listing probable facilitators to the availability and use of MgSO4 identified from the literature was used to develop an assessment tool. Barriers to availability and use of MgSO4 were assessed at the regulatory/government, supply, procurement, distribution, health facility and health professional levels. The assessment was completed during August 2008 using archival data, and observations at a pragmatic sample of health facilities providing obstetric services in Lusaka District, Zambia. RESULTS: The major barrier to the availability of MgSO4 within the public health system in Zambia was lack of procurement by the Ministry of Health. Other barriers identified included a lack of demand by health professionals at the health centre level and a lack of in-service training in the use of MgSO4. Where there was demand by obstetricians, magnesium sulphate injection was being procured from the private sector by the hospital pharmacy despite not being registered and licensed for use for the treatment of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia by the national Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority. CONCLUSIONS: The case study in Zambia highlights the complexities that underlie making essential medicines available and used appropriately. The fishbone diagram is a useful theoretical framework for illustrating the complexity of translating research findings into clinical practice. A better understanding of the supply system and of the pattern of demand for MgSO4 in Zambia should enable policy makers and stakeholders to develop and implement appropriate interventions to improve the availability and use of MgSO4.