Constituer un groupe amélioré de travailleurs en santé communautaire afin d'améliorer la santé des mères et des nouveau-nés en Tanzanie rurale (ISMEA)

Each woman : Health Projects Plus CAPS poster

The poster depicts the “Each Woman” project which serves to enhance the role of community health workers (CHWs) in Tanzania. CHWs can provide multiple interventions towards better maternal health, as well as promoting improved access to health care facilities. Because there are severe limitations in access to family planning services especially in rural Tanzania, a second project, “Contraception and Provider Support” (CAPS) promotes research that will improve access to family planning methods in order to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail, Chirangi, Bwire, Magatti, Nyamusi

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Langage : Anglais

In support of community-based primary health care : coping with the COVID-19 crisis

Key to maintaining community health are relationships between community health workers with local families. This is particularly true for reproductive health care services such as family planning and antenatal care. The paper emphasizes community care strengthening during the COVID-19 pandemic, when women are less likely to leave their communities for health care. As well, it advocates for increased support for health workers at this time - both through phone supervision and through provision of clean supplies which they can distribute to pregnant women, including misoprostol tablets to help prevent postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail C., Chirangi, Bwire M.

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Langage : Anglais

Women's health in women's hands : a pilot study assessing the feasibility of providing women with medications to reduce postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis in rural Tanzania

The pilot study established feasibility of distributing oral medications (such as misoprostol in pill form) to women in rural Tanzania to self-administer after delivery. Two of the largest causes of maternal mortality are bleeding and infection. Of the 642 women provided with medications, 90% took them appropriately, while the remaining 10% did not require them. Mara Region has one of the highest non-facility birth rates in Tanzania, with more than 60% of women delivering in their villages. Hundreds of thousands of women could be saved through access to this inexpensive medication. In Tanzania the maternal mortality ratio is 454 per 100,000 (2011).

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail C., Chirangi, Bwire

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Langage : Anglais

“Please Do Not Forget Us” - views of women, nurses, and traditional birth attendants on community distribution of medications to prevent postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis : a qualitative pilot study in rural Tanzania

There is strong support from rural women, dispensary nurses and traditional birth attendants for a community distribution program of medications to prevent postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis. These are the most common causes of death for women in childbirth globally. This study established the feasibility of providing oral medications to women in rural Tanzania to self-administer after delivery, reducing bleeding and infection. This article covers details of the study including background, methods, and results. There are high non-facility birth rates in rural Tanzania, with more than 60% of women delivering in their villages without available attendants.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail, Chirangi, Bwire

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Langage : Anglais

Research sets out key obstacles to maternal health in rural Tanzania

Transportation and medical supplies cost more than rural women can afford. Tanzania has limited resources for rural districts, few skilled birth attendants and a shortage of medical supplies. The article briefly reviews the study which found that community members and policymakers have similar priorities for improving maternal health. These involve social and structural changes such as improved accessibility/ transport to health facilities, as well as supply of equipment and medication. Some strategies have been developed to address these priorities and improve safe deliveries.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail

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Langage : Anglais

Promoting respectful maternity care in rural Tanzania : nurses’ experiences of the “Health Workers for Change” program

This pilot study trained reproductive health care nurses to be more sensitive to women’s needs based on the “Health Workers for Change” curriculum. Health care provider attitudes are a key issue to address in order to improve access to care. In consultations, women described health care providers using “bad language,” while male partners sometimes resorted to offering bribes to ensure better care for their partners. Health care providers participating in the workshops had several suggestions for improving women’s experiences. They emphasized continuation of health education, the importance of family planning, and safe deliveries as key to improving maternal care.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail, Chirangi, Bwire, Magatti, Nyamusi

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Langage : Anglais

Experiences of a multiple intervention trial to increase maternity care access in rural Tanzania : focus group findings with women, nurses and community health workers

Multiple intervention strategies help women access maternity care services in rural locations and need to be designed within the local context. The interventions in this study comprised workshops with nurses to encourage respectful care of women, and transportation subsidies in order for women to reach health facilities. Community health workers (CHW) were trained to educate couples about safe birthing options using m-health applications, to collaborate with nurses to distribute clean birth kits with misoprostol (for postpartum haemorrhage prevention) and to hold village meetings to shift community norms. This article reports on the experiences of women, community health workers and nurses during the study.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail, Chirangi, Bwire, Magatti, Nyamusi

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Langage : Anglais

Community member and policy maker priorities in improving maternal health in rural Tanzania

Objective: To determine community member and policy maker priorities in improving maternal health in rural Tanzania. Methods: The present participatory action research project was conducted in Rorya District, Mara Region, Tanzania, between November 20 and 25, 2015. A convenience sample of four community and one policy maker discussion groups were held to identify factors impacting on maternal health. The inclusion criterion for community members was a recent personal or partner experience with childbirth, or experience as a village leader. The policy maker participants were enrolled from all members of the District Council Health Management Team. Results: There was considerable overlap in priorities expressed by community members and policy makers. The most common priorities were to improve the transportation options for women to get to the health facility, the availability of supplies in the health facilities, and healthcare provider attitudes toward women, and to increase the number of skilled healthcare providers. Policy makers also prioritized improved health education of women, improved access to health facilities, and increased power in decision-making for women. Conclusions: Community members and policy makers have similar priorities for improving maternal health, which involve both social and structural changes.

Auteur ou autrice(s) : Webber, Gail, Chirangi, Bwire, Magatti, Nyamusi

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Langage : Anglais