Engaging community health workers in maternal and infant death identification in Khayelitsha, South Africa : a pilot study

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dc.contributor.authorIgumbor, Judeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAdetokunboh, Olatunjien_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMuller, Jocelynen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBosire, Edna N.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAjuwon, Ademolaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorPhetlhu, Reneen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMbule, Marjorieen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRonan, Agnesen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBurtt, Fionaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorScheepers, Escaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSchmitz, Kathrinen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-29T10:23:19Z
dc.date.available2021-04-29T10:23:19Z
dc.date.issued2020-11-26
dc.date.updated2020-11-29T06:29:39Z
dc.descriptionCITATION: Igumbor, J., et al. 2020. Engaging community health workers in maternal and infant death identification in Khayelitsha, South Africa : a pilot study. Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20:736, doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03419-4.
dc.description.abstractBackground: Engaging community health workers in a formalised death review process through verbal and social autopsy has been utilised in different settings to estimate the burden and causes of mortality, where civil registration and vital statistics systems are weak. This method has not been widely adopted. We piloted the use of trained community health workers (CHW) to investigate the extent of unreported maternal and infant deaths in Khayelitsha and explored requirements of such a programme and the role of CHWs in bridging gaps. Methods: This was a mixed methods study, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods. Case identification and data collection were done by ten trained CHWs. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interview guides for key informant interviews, focus group discussions and informal conversations. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using a content analysis approach. Results: Although more than half of the infant deaths occurred in hospitals (n = 11/17), about a quarter that occurred at home (n = 4/17) were unreported. Main causes of deaths as perceived by family members of the deceased were related to uncertainty about the quality of care in the facilities, socio-cultural and economic contexts where people lived and individual factors. Most unreported deaths were further attributed to weak facilitycommunity links and socio-cultural practices. Fragmented death reporting systems were perceived to influence the quality of the data and this impacted on the number of unreported deaths. Only two maternal deaths were identified in this pilot study. Conclusions: CHWs can conduct verbal and social autopsy for maternal and infant deaths to complement formal vital registration systems. Capacity development, stakeholder’s engagement, supervision, and support are essential for a community-linked death review system. Policymakers and implementers should establish a functional relationship between community-linked reporting systems and the existing system as a starting point. There is a need for more studies to confirm or build on our pilot findings.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-020-03419-4
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent12 pages
dc.identifier.citationIgumbor, J., et al. 2020. Engaging community health workers in maternal and infant death identification in Khayelitsha, South Africa : a pilot study. Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20:736, doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03419-4
dc.identifier.issn1471-2393 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1186/s12884-020-03419-4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110378
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherBMC (part of Springer Nature)
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectVerbal autopsyen_ZA
dc.subjectMothers -- Death -- Causes -- South Africa -- Cape Town -- Khayelitshaen_ZA
dc.subjectInfants -- Death -- Causes -- South Africa -- Cape Town -- Khayelitshaen_ZA
dc.subjectCommunity health services -- South Africa -- Cape Town -- Khayelitshaen_ZA
dc.titleEngaging community health workers in maternal and infant death identification in Khayelitsha, South Africa : a pilot studyen_ZA
dc.typeArticle
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