Practices of Maternity’s Care Providers in the Municipality of Kozah 1 Regarding the Administration of Vitamin K1, Eye Care, and Umbilical Cord Care in Immediate Postpartum Newborns

Background: Neonatal mortality is a real public health problem in the world and particularly in countries with limited resources. Essential care remains an effective means of reducing this mortality. Objective: To evaluate the practice of administering of vitamin K1, ocular and cord care in maternity wards in the Kozah 1 municipality. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from March 1st to June 30th, 2022 in all maternity wards in the Kozah 1 municipality. Socioprofessional aspects of providers and those related to the administration of vitamin K1, ocular and cord care were studied. Results: Eighty-five (85) maternity providers were included in this study. The average age of the providers was 36.2 years with extremes of 21 and 55 years. Providers were midwives (51.8%), childbirth attendants (35.3%), and matrons (12.9%). The average length of practice was 9.5 years with extremes of 1 and 28 years. For three out of four providers (75.3%), the postpartum period was defined as a period of 02 hours following delivery. The importance of cord, ocular care, and administration of vitamin K1 in postpartum was known respectively by 84.7%, 98.8%, and 92.9% of the providers. Chlorhexidine gel was used by 81.2% of providers for umbilical cord care. For ocular disinfection, more than half of the providers (52.9%) reported using half-diluted povidone iodine. No center had displayed care protocol. Conclusion: This study highlighted the level of knowledge and practice of three essential postpartum care practices. The products used for the different care practices are consistent with recommendations but vary according to the care providers.

Management of Immediate Postpartum Hemorrhage at the University Hospital Center of the Sino-Central African Friendship

Introduction: Immediate postpartum hemorrhages constitute a frequent maternal complication and remain at the forefront of maternal death in our countries. Objective: Contribute to improving the management of immediate postpartum hemorrhage in our context with a view to reducing maternal mortality. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study over a period of 12 months from January 1st to December 31st 2020. Results: We collected a total of 109 files on a total of 4360 deliveries. The frequency of postpartum haemorrhages was of the order of 2.5%. The most represented age group was between 20 and 24 years old. Pauciparas represented the majority of our study population. 64.5% of patients were uneducated. These hemorrhages occurred in patients who often gave birth outside the department with 63.8%. The main causes of postpartum hemorrhage were cervical tears (51.2%) and partial placental retention (30.7%). The majority of these deliveries (48.8%) were carried out by midwives followed by assistant midwives (33.2%). Active management of the third period of delivery was systematic and immediate followed by the valve examination completed by the infusion of oxytocin in case of uterine atony, tranexamic acid ans misoprostol intrarectally. In the event of persistent hemorrhage, suture of the cervical lesions, ligation of the cervical vessels or even laparotomy either for the selective ligation of the blood vessels or for the hysterectomy for hemostasis were practiced. We do not have a Nalador, nor a Bakry balloon, nor an Interventional Radiology service for embolization of the uterine arteries. We deplore 1.3% of deaths from afibrinogenemia. Conclusion: The frequency of immediate postpartum hemorrhages is lower in our health facility. This is due to the rapid handling of cases. Improving the quality of services offered to women during childbirth can further help reduce the frequency of these hemorrhages.