Objective: To evaluate the organizational model of a perinatal network and its relevance in a resource-limited country. Methodology: This was a mixed prospective qualitative and quantitative study conducted over a 2-y...Objective: To evaluate the organizational model of a perinatal network and its relevance in a resource-limited country. Methodology: This was a mixed prospective qualitative and quantitative study conducted over a 2-year period, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. This study took place in Senegal, a country with limited resources and a weakness of hyperspecialized medical technical resources. There was no policy for the management of fetal malformations. The qualitative part was carried out through overt participant observation. The human resources and the organization of the perinatal network were described. For the quantitative part, all fetuses managed during the study period were included. The studied parameters related to neonatal care and outcomes. Qualitative variables were described using dispersion parameters, and quantitative variables were described using proportions. Results: The perinatal network includes several specialists across six hospitals. Of these hospitals, only one provided emergency pediatric surgery. The network included highly specialized human resources in prenatal diagnosis, congenital heart defects, pediatric surgery, anesthesia, and other medical specialties in perinatology. Advanced ultrasound was centralized by an obstetrician. The team decided on the follow-up methods, timing, and mode of delivery. The newborn was immediately transferred to the appropriate specialty. Over the 2-year period, 201 fetuses were managed. The rate of cesarean delivery was 76.3%. Neonatal mortality was 51.4%. Discussion: Centralizing care improves the quality of prenatal diagnosis and management of congenital defects. Mortality remains high when emergency surgery is not well available. This mortality is also due to the lack of a single center offering all perinatal care and so, the transfer of newborns. The cesarean rate increases due to underlying conditions and organizational factors. Conclusion: Public policies should prioritize the centralization of care for congenital disorders to reduce the costs of disability and mortality.展开更多
Background: Postnatal transfer (PT) is interhospital transport of care-needing newborns. In 2016, a perinatal network was implemented to facilitate PT in the town of Douala, Cameroon. The network was supposed to impro...Background: Postnatal transfer (PT) is interhospital transport of care-needing newborns. In 2016, a perinatal network was implemented to facilitate PT in the town of Douala, Cameroon. The network was supposed to improve PT-related care standards. This study aimed at determining characteristics of PT five years following the implementation of this network. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from February to May 2021 at neonatology wards of six hospitals in Douala. Medical records of newborns transferred to the hospitals were scrutinized to document their characteristics. Parents were contacted to obtain information on PT route and itinerary. Data were analyzed using Epi Info software and summarized as percentages, mean and odds ratio. Results: In total, 234 of the 1159 newborns admitted were transferred, giving a PT prevalence of 20.2% (95% CI 17.9% - 22.6%). Male-to-female ratio of the transferred newborns was 1.3. Neonatal infection (26.5%), prematurity (23.5%) and respiratory distress (15.4%) were the main reasons for transfer. Only 3% of the PT was medicalized while only 2% of the newborns were transferred through perinatal network. On admission, hypothermia and respiratory distress were found in 31% and 35% of the newborns, respectively. The mortality rate among babies was 20% and these had a two-fold risk of dying (95% CI 1.58 - 3.44, p Conclusion: PT and the perinatal network are lowly organized and implemented in Douala. Sensitization of medical staff on in utero transfer, creating center for coordination of the network, and implementation of neonatal transport system could improve the quality of PT.展开更多
文摘Objective: To evaluate the organizational model of a perinatal network and its relevance in a resource-limited country. Methodology: This was a mixed prospective qualitative and quantitative study conducted over a 2-year period, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. This study took place in Senegal, a country with limited resources and a weakness of hyperspecialized medical technical resources. There was no policy for the management of fetal malformations. The qualitative part was carried out through overt participant observation. The human resources and the organization of the perinatal network were described. For the quantitative part, all fetuses managed during the study period were included. The studied parameters related to neonatal care and outcomes. Qualitative variables were described using dispersion parameters, and quantitative variables were described using proportions. Results: The perinatal network includes several specialists across six hospitals. Of these hospitals, only one provided emergency pediatric surgery. The network included highly specialized human resources in prenatal diagnosis, congenital heart defects, pediatric surgery, anesthesia, and other medical specialties in perinatology. Advanced ultrasound was centralized by an obstetrician. The team decided on the follow-up methods, timing, and mode of delivery. The newborn was immediately transferred to the appropriate specialty. Over the 2-year period, 201 fetuses were managed. The rate of cesarean delivery was 76.3%. Neonatal mortality was 51.4%. Discussion: Centralizing care improves the quality of prenatal diagnosis and management of congenital defects. Mortality remains high when emergency surgery is not well available. This mortality is also due to the lack of a single center offering all perinatal care and so, the transfer of newborns. The cesarean rate increases due to underlying conditions and organizational factors. Conclusion: Public policies should prioritize the centralization of care for congenital disorders to reduce the costs of disability and mortality.
文摘Background: Postnatal transfer (PT) is interhospital transport of care-needing newborns. In 2016, a perinatal network was implemented to facilitate PT in the town of Douala, Cameroon. The network was supposed to improve PT-related care standards. This study aimed at determining characteristics of PT five years following the implementation of this network. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from February to May 2021 at neonatology wards of six hospitals in Douala. Medical records of newborns transferred to the hospitals were scrutinized to document their characteristics. Parents were contacted to obtain information on PT route and itinerary. Data were analyzed using Epi Info software and summarized as percentages, mean and odds ratio. Results: In total, 234 of the 1159 newborns admitted were transferred, giving a PT prevalence of 20.2% (95% CI 17.9% - 22.6%). Male-to-female ratio of the transferred newborns was 1.3. Neonatal infection (26.5%), prematurity (23.5%) and respiratory distress (15.4%) were the main reasons for transfer. Only 3% of the PT was medicalized while only 2% of the newborns were transferred through perinatal network. On admission, hypothermia and respiratory distress were found in 31% and 35% of the newborns, respectively. The mortality rate among babies was 20% and these had a two-fold risk of dying (95% CI 1.58 - 3.44, p Conclusion: PT and the perinatal network are lowly organized and implemented in Douala. Sensitization of medical staff on in utero transfer, creating center for coordination of the network, and implementation of neonatal transport system could improve the quality of PT.
