Description:
Background: Postnatal care services consists of care given to the mother and her newborn
for the first six weeks following birth, which enable health care providers identify
post delivery problems and provide treatments promptly. This evaluation was conducted
to assess the quality of postnatal care services following the unpublished report from
Health Management Information System of the District which showed an increase in the
number of maternal and infant death within six weeks post delivery.
Methods: The evaluation used descriptive cross sectional study design in which quantitative
approach was employed to collect and analyze evaluation data. The study was
also guided by Donabedian conceptual framework based on structural and process components.
A total of 355 clients attending postnatal care services in five selected facilities
participated in an exit interview. Observational checklist adopted from the WHO implementation
guideline was used for assessing resource availability. Data was analyzed
using STATA version 13.0.
Results: The findings established that health facilities that were involved in the study
had basic resources to render quality postnatal care, however, there were some deficiencies
in both structure and process components for provision of Post Natal Care (PNC)
services. None of the five facilities had separate PNC room equipped with facilities for
provision of quality services.
Discussion and policy implications: The evaluated health facilities scored below 90%,
based on agreed standard as set by World Health Organization which implies PNC services
offered was sub-standard. Mbalizi Hospital and Inyala Health Centre had the average
score of 77%, Santilya dispensary scored the third (75%) followed by Ilembo
Health Centre 70% and the last was Igoma dispensary which scored 68% which is equal
to partial quality. There is a need for the management of Mbeya District Council to plan
for improvement of health facility infrastructures by constructing separate rooms for
PNC to be able to provide quality health services and reduce neonatal and maternal
death and ensure privacy to patients and clients.