The Quality Of Emergency Obstetrical Surgery By Assistant Medical Officers In Tanzanian District Hospitals

Five countries in sub-Saharan Africa use nonphysicians to perform major emergency obstetrical surgery. In Tanzania, assistant medical officers provide most of this surgery outside of major cities. Questions about the quality of surgery by nonphysicians have kept most African countries from following...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health Affairs 2009-09, Vol.28 (5), p.w876
Main Authors: McCord, Colin, Mbaruku, Godfrey, Pereira, Caetano, Nzabuhakwa, Calist, Bergstrom, Staffan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cesarean section
Eclampsia
Fatalities
Fetuses
Hemorrhage
Hospitals
Obstetrics
Quality of care
Sepsis
Studies
Surgery
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Summary:Five countries in sub-Saharan Africa use nonphysicians to perform major emergency obstetrical surgery. In Tanzania, assistant medical officers provide most of this surgery outside of major cities. Questions about the quality of surgery by nonphysicians have kept most African countries from following this example. We reviewed the records of all patients admitted for complicated deliveries to fourteen district hospitals during four months. Among 1,134 complicated deliveries and 1,072 major obstetrical operations, there were no significant differences between assistant medical officers and medical officers in outcomes, risk indicators, or quality. There were significant differences between mission and government hospitals. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0278-2715
1544-5208
DOI:10.1377/hlthaff.28.5.w876