Indicators of availability, use, and quality of emergency obstetric and neonatal care in Togo in 2012

Abstract

Objective: To assess the availability, utilization, and quality of emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) in Togo.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of EmONC services in all public and private health facilities in the territory of Togo conducted from July to December, 2012. The generic tools developed by the Averting Maternal Death and Disability program were used as the basic tools for this evaluation.

Results: The survey involved 1019 health facilities including 864 potential EmONC facilities that constituted the final sample. The results showed that there was low availability of functional EmONC health facilities (8 basic EmONC and 24 comprehensive EmONC) with a large urban/rural variation. Among the 24 current CEmONC, 22 were in urban areas and half were from the private sector. The national ratio of availability was 3 EmONC health facilities per 500 000 inhabitants. Nationally, the cesarean delivery rate was 3.5%. The lethality rate of direct obstetric causes was estimated at 1.3%.

Conclusion: Needs assessment for EmONC showed low availability of EmONC services and underutilization of the available services.

Keywords: EmONC; Emergency obstetric and neonatal care; Maternal health; Quality of care; Togo; UN process indicators.