A descriptive, cross-sectional study of postpartum education: midwives’ self-reported knowledge and teaching of postpartum complications in Ghana

Reproductive Health

Yenupini Joyce Adams¹  Lynn Sladek² 

[1] Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame;Labor and Delivery, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital;

关键词: Postpartum;    Midwives;    Postpartum complications;    Discharge education;    Maternal mortality;    Maternal health;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12978-022-01376-z

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Plain language summary Complications after childbirth are the leading causes of maternal deaths. All women who have a baby should be educated about the warning signs of complications. In this study, 245 midwives from four hospitals in Tamale, Ghana, completed questions that assessed the education they provide to patients on potential complications after childbirth, their knowledge to teach patients about complications, and their skills to manage complications after birth. Midwives reported that patients stay in the hospital for a day or less if they delivered vaginally or for 3 or more days if they delivered by cesarean section. About 62% of midwives spent 6 to 15 min teaching patients on warning signs of complications; 82% provided individual teaching during discharge; and 66% did not provide take-home educational materials to patients. About 93% of midwives either strongly agreed or agreed that it is their responsibility to teach all patients about warning signs of complications. Results indicated that midwives did not always teach patients about potential complications that can occur after childbirth. Midwives more frequently taught patients about severe bleeding, infections, and complications of high blood pressure, and least frequently taught patients about heart-related complications, blood clots and depression after birth. Most midwives felt they were knowledgeable to teach and manage severe bleeding (hemorrhage), infection, and complications related to high blood pressure (preeclampsia/eclampsia) but not heart-related complications (cardiac events), blood clots in lungs (pulmonary embolism), blood clots in deep vein, usually in legs (venous thrombosis), and depression after childbirth.

【 授权许可】

Unknown