A model for improving quality of care in maternal health facilities in South Africa

Abstract

Reducing maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) and neonatal mortality ratios (NMRs) remains a priority for improving the quality of care in various parts of the world, particularly in developing nations like South Africa. There has been no victory in reducing MMRs and NMRs in different models that were developed, tried, and tested. The study intended to develop a model for improving the quality of care in maternal health facilities in South Africa. The study was conducted in a selected public hospital in Libode in the Eastern Cape province. A purposive sample of fifteen women, five doctors and fifteen midwives was used to conduct in-depth face-to-face individual interviews. Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis framework was used to transcribe, code, and then extract and analyse key themes from the collected data. The main study findings revealed that obstacles to receiving prompt, adequate and quality of care were common problems encountered in a maternal health facility. Both direct and indirect as well as possible contributing factors to poor quality maternal and newborn care were also revealed. These practices increase the risk of maternal and related perinatal deaths. The study findings informed the development of a model for improving quality of care to advance health outcomes in women and newborns in the maternal health facilities in South Africa. The study findings further recommend the proposed model as an initiative to improve the quality of care in health care facilities and reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in the Eastern Cape province.