Early Intervention Among Women Getting Cesareans in Rwanda is Saving Lives

By MOMENTUM, USAID suite of awardsJune 10, 2022This blog post was originally published on the USAID MOMENTUM website on June 7, 2022.Read it here.Cesarean deliveries have become increasingly safe in Rwanda thanks to the efforts of the government and its partners to train and prepare health providers to perform these surgeries. However, pregnant women with previous cesareans are at higher risk of pregnancy complications, including uterine rupture, if not closely monitored in health facilities.Preliminary results of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) in 2019 ranked cesareans as the highest maternal mortality risk factor in Rwanda. Confidential inquiries into maternal deaths are one type of maternal death surveillance and response. They are intended to go beyond counting numbers of deaths for statistical purposes, to provide insight into possible factors that may be addressed to reduce future deaths. The inquiry revealed existing gaps in follow-up of women with obstetrical complications during pregnancy in antenatal care, leading to an increased risk of maternal death in mothers with previous cesarean procedures.Mukankotanyi Yvette is a 27-year-old mother of three from Ngoma District in Rwanda’s Eastern Province who experienced these gaps in care. When she was due to deliver her youngest child, she was unaware that she needed to be closely monitored at a health facility due to cesarean scars linked to her previous deliveries. This was despite regularly ...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Health Workers Community Health Workers Midwives Source Type: news