An assessment of reproductive health services in selected health facilities, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The national figure for skilled attendance at delivery in Nigeria is 38.1 percent, with some observed regional difference. In Anambra State for instance, 87.6 percent of deliveries are taken by skilled providers. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of skilled providers can be hampered by a lack of essential reproductive health drugs, commodities, supplies and equipment. Aim: Of this study is to assess reproductive health care services in Anambra State, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a descriptive study carried out in Anambra state of Nigeria in 2010. A stratified multi stage sampling method was used to select a total of 30 health facilities from both the public and private health facilities in Anambra state of Nigeria. A tertiary health facility in Anambra state was purposively selected and data was analysed using SPSS. Results: A majority (86.7%) of the facilities provided 24 hours services. All, except two of the facilities surveyed were open for services seven days of the week. Maternal health services such as antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care were available in most of the health facilities studied (93% to 100%). The comprehensive emergency obstetrics care (26.7%) was the most common type of emergency obstetric care. Nurses constituted the most frequent cadre (57.4%) among the various categories of skilled health attendants, followed by medical non specialist doctors (31.1%). Seven facilities used partograph to monitor labour, while 11 health facilities provided adolescent reproductive health care services. HIV/AIDS counselling and STI services (ranging from 90% to 96%) were available in most of the health facilities studied. A majority of deliveries were conducted in the National teaching hospital (36.8%) followed by mission hospital (31.1%), while Mission hospitals reported the highest rate (13.2%) of Caesarean section performed in the health facilities. Obstetric haemorrhage constituted the commonest obstetric complication (88.7%) followed by prolonged/ obstructed labour (6.8%) found in the health facilities studied. Conclusion: The reproductive health services in Anambra state with specific reference to services coverage was found to be near adequate, although there is room for improvement.