Challenges to diagnosing and managing preeclampsia in a low-resource setting: A qualitative study of obstetric provider perspectives from Ghana

Author:

Atluri Namratha,Beyuo Titus K.ORCID,Oppong Samuel A.,Moyer Cheryl A.,Lawrence Emma R.ORCID

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of global maternal morbidity and mortality. The greatest burden of disease is in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare providers face significant, understudied, challenges to diagnosing and managing preeclampsia. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore the challenges of diagnosing and managing preeclampsia from the perspectives of obstetric doctors. Participants were doctors who provide obstetric care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, an urban tertiary hospital in Ghana. Purposive sampling identified doctors with meaningful experience in managing patients with preeclampsia. Thematic saturation of data was used to determine sample size. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded using an iteratively-developed codebook, and thematically analyzed. Interviews were conducted with 22 participants, consisting of 4 house officers, 6 junior obstetrics/gynecology residents, 8 senior obstetrics/gynecology residents, and 4 obstetrics/gynecology consultants. Doctors identified critical challenges faced at the patient, provider, and systems levels in detecting and managing preeclampsia, each of which mediates the health outcomes of a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. Challenges centered around three overarching global themes: (1) low education levels and health literacy among women, (2) insufficient number of healthcare providers highly trained in obstetric care, and (3) inadequate health infrastructure to support critically ill patients with preeclampsia. Recognizing and addressing root challenges to preeclampsia care has great potential to improve outcomes in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia in low-resource settings.

Funder

National Institute of Health

North Pacific Global Health Fellowship

University of Michigan Woll Family Scholarship

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Reference24 articles.

1. The global impact of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia;L. Duley;Semin Perinatol,2009

2. Prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis;KS Gemechu;Womens Health,2020

3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics. Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia: ACOG Practice Bulletin, number 222. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135: e237–e260.

4. Pre-eclampsia;LC Chappell;Lancet,2021

5. Global and regional estimates of preeclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review;E Abalos;Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol,2013

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3