An Evaluation of Antenatal Screening Services Provided in Health Facilities of Lundazi District, Zambia
Abstract:
Background: Provision of quality Antenatal care requires
holistic screening and timely treatment to prevent neonatal and maternal mortalities.
Methods: A facility based cross- sectional study evaluated antenatal screening
services offered in Lundazi District, Zambia. The study was conducted between October
2019 and June2020. Study units comprised 5 health facilities, 60 ANC mothers and
75 ANC providers. The study used facility audit, observation and self-administered
questionnaires.
Results: The study found that ANC mothers could not be weighed in all the
health facilities due to dysfunctional weighing scales. Facilities lacked Multistix
for urine testing. Facilities could not test for blood grouping or screen blood
for Rhesus factor. One facility could not screen for HIV and Malaria as reagents
were out of stock. Another facility could not screen Haemoglobin levels for anaemia
as the Hamacue machine was dysfunctional. Routine ultrasound was not done in all
the five facilities.
Conclusion: Lack of functional equipment and essential supplies used for screening
ANC mothers for any abnormality is a significant missed opportunity for early diagnosis
and timely treatment of medical conditions. Reinforcing this component improves
provision of quality antenatal care. Therefore, increased Antenatal care coverage
requires a simultaneous scale-up of ANC equipment, supplies and drugs.
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