Browsing by Author "Zhangazha, Angelina"
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- ItemExperiences of skilled birth attendants with informational continuity during the antenatal period within Primary Health Care settings in Lesotho(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Zhangazha, Angelina; Kaura, Doreen; Robertson, Anneline; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Nursing & Midwifery.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Informational continuity is the availability of all health and psychosocial information of the pregnant women at all encounters with healthcare providers. Continuity of care as described by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has four approaches which includes informational, interpersonal, longitudinal, and management continuity. Informational continuity is one of the measures that may assist in reduction of maternal mortality by reducing duplication of services and fragmentation of care. Informational continuity also helps in coordination of care of pregnant women. Care that is fragmented and not sufficiently coordinated between healthcare providers may not benefit clients due to conflicting care plans, poly pharmacy or duplication of services. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) with informational continuity during the antenatal period within primary health care (PHC) settings in Lesotho. Methods: A qualitative approach with a descriptive phenomenological design was used to explore the experiences of SBAs with informational continuity during the antenatal period within PHC settings in Lesotho. Purposive sampling was done to choose participants from three PHC centres within Maseru district. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University, Lesotho, Ministry of Health National Research and Ethics Committee and Maseru District Health Management Team (DHMT). Nine individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed using Colaizzi’s framework. Results: Four themes emerged from the results, namely, 1) Skilled birth attendant–pregnant women communication, 2) Healthcare provider communication, 3) Documentation during ANC and 4) Protocols and guidelines in ANC. Through this study, it was observed that informational continuity can be obtained through several ways. The SBAs showed that they communicate with the pregnant women through history taking, examination and health education. They also communicate through her partner or companion. There is continued communication between the SBAs and other health care providers within the healthcare centre, within the community and with the referral hospital to promote the health of a pregnant women. During ANC, the SBA uses several documents to capture and communicate the information of the pregnant women, these include, the LOR, ANC register, e-register, and tally sheets. The SBAs are guided by protocols and guidelines in managing the pregnant women during ANC. Several challenges were identified during the antenatal period, which included challenges with communication between the SBAs and the pregnant women; communication among the healthcare providers; documentation and the use and dissemination of the protocols and guidelines. However, challenges were encountered during obtaining information from the pregnant women as some would not give accurate information. Multiple documentation and work overload caused prolonged waiting time for the pregnant women. Errors in documentation would cause errors in the transfer of information. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that with no challenges, informational continuity is obtained through communication between SBAs, the pregnant women, other healthcare providers and the community through health education. Should the human resource be increased, it may assist to relieve the documentation challenges as well as reduce the workload.