Introducing criteria based audit into Ugandan maternity units.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Maternal Health
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Maternal mortality in Uganda remains high at 500/100,000, with rural areas facing significant challenges in improving maternity care standards due to limited resources and staff support.
• Healthcare professionals in rural settings often experience isolation, low morale, and a lack of skills for implementing change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of introducing criteria-based audit training in rural Ugandan maternity settings.
• To identify low-cost, sustainable strategies for improving the standard of maternity care in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

• A training program was implemented in rural Uganda, including didactic teaching on criteria-based audit and practical application within healthcare units.
• Ongoing support and follow-up workshops were provided to participants from Makerere University Medical School, Mulago Hospital, and Mpigi District's health centers.

Main Results:

• The training led to improvements in various standards of maternity care.
• Healthcare staff demonstrated high enthusiasm for the training, implementing numerous simple, cost-free improvements.

Conclusions:

• Criteria-based audit training is an effective method for achieving low-cost improvements in healthcare standards in developing countries.
• This approach has the potential for sustainable and cost-effective healthcare changes, requiring continued follow-up to maintain staff engagement.