Browsing by Author "Abdallah, Subira"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Midwives preparedness on COVID-19 and its impact on maternal service utilization in Dodoma region, Tanzania
    (The University of Dodoma, 2021) Abdallah, Subira
    COVID-19 is one of the pandemic outbreaks the world ever experienced. The outbreak has caused serious effects on the health industry where the need for healthcare services is inevitable. However, there is sparing empirical data on the midwife preparedness on COVID-19 and its impact on maternal service utilization in Tanzania and even globally. This gap necessitated this study to assess the midwife preparedness on COVID-19 and its impact on maternal services utilization in Dodoma Region of Tanzania. A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and focused group discussions. A total of 116 midwives and 384 postnatal women were sampled through two stages random sampling technique to participate in the study. Overall, 11.21% of the midwives in labor wards were adequately prepared and 54.31% had adequate knowledge on COVID-19. Further findings revealed that midwives with diploma/bachelor level of education (AOR = 2.62, p= 0.033), not married (AOR =2.38, p= 0.024), those working in urban health facilities (AOR =6.58, p <0.001), and those who attended training on COVID-19 once (AOR =3.65, p=0.033) or more than once (AOR= 4.98, p= 0.002) were significantly more likely to have adequate knowledge on COVID-19. The challenges facing midwives in providing care to mothers during the period of COVID-19 included midwives’ experiences on providing care during COVID19, lack of supportive work environment and emotional and mental health wellbeing problems brought by COVID-19.Social stigma and misconceptions. It was felt that COVID-19 led to massive isolation among midwives, patients, and the community. Additionally, the current married postnatal mothers (AOR =1.75, p=0.028), employed (AOR= 4.43, p= 0.001) and self-employed mothers (AOR = 1.65, p= 1.048) were significantly more likely to attend ANC services during COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, 47.4% of included postnatal mothers attended ANC services during COVID-19 pandemic. A significant difference in number of hospital deliveries before and during COVID 19 was observed (p= 0.042). Also, the average number of ANC visits per month during the pandemic was significantly lower (981.7) compared to the previous visits (1162.5) (T= -3.19, p= 0.033). Higher proportion of the Midwives from the selected health facilities were inadequate preparedness on COVID 19 and low level ANC services attendance among postnatal mothers during COVID-19 was observed. Few midwives received training, inadequate guideline and PPE in labour wards. Education level, marital status and number of COVID-19 training attended were significant predictors of COVID-19 knowledge among midwives. The number of ANC visits per month during the COVID 19 pandemic was lower as compared to before pandemic. Also, attendance of ANC service during COVID-19 among postnatal mothers was significantly associated with mother occupation and current marital status.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    “We always felt psychologically unstable”: A qualitative study of midwives' experiences in providing maternity care during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Tanzania
    (Wiley, 2024) Joho, Angelina A.; Abdallah, Subira
    Aim We explored midwives' experiences and challenges in providing maternity care during the period of the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Dodoma. Design Phenomenological study design was used to explore midwives' experiences and challenges in providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania. Methods We conducted interviews with a total of 23 midwives, using semi-structured interviews and an audio recorder. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. To analyse the data, we used interpretive phenomenological thematic data analysis with NVivo software. To analyse templates, we followed a step-by-step process, starting with familiarizing ourselves with the data, followed by preliminary coding, organizing themes, developing an initial coding template, using the initial template, refining the template and finally applying it to the entire dataset. Results It was found that three themes and eight subthemes merged in the current study. The main themes were ① mental health distress, ② work environment challenges and ③ isolation of midwives by different groups. Public Contribution Reducing risk and protecting midwives from infectious diseases will improve the workforce, reduce the number of hospital stays, reduce the cost of hospital services, improve birth outcomes and indirectly improve family, community and national economies. Conclusion Due to the system's failure to provide psychological support, protective environment and isolation rooms for confirmed or suspected cases put midwives at a higher risk of contracting the virus and had to work in a stressful environment. In addition to having the right tools, midwives must also receive emotional and psychological support in order to be at their best. The system must ensure that midwives are ready for uncertain times, such as pandemic infectious disease outbreaks, by providing protective work place environment such as personal protective equipment, psychological support and isolation room for confirmed COVID-19 cases
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    “We always felt psychologically unstable”: A qualitative study of midwives' experiences in providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania
    (Wiley & Sons, 2024-01) Joho, Angelina A.; Abdallah, Subira
    Aim We explored midwives' experiences and challenges in providing maternity care during the period of the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Dodoma. Design Phenomenological study design was used to explore midwives' experiences and challenges in providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania. Methods We conducted interviews with a total of 23 midwives, using semi-structured interviews and an audio recorder. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. To analyse the data, we used interpretive phenomenological thematic data analysis with NVivo software. To analyse templates, we followed a step-by-step process, starting with familiarizing ourselves with the data, followed by preliminary coding, organizing themes, developing an initial coding template, using the initial template, refining the template and finally applying it to the entire dataset. Results It was found that three themes and eight subthemes merged in the current study. The main themes were ① mental health distress, ② work environment challenges and ③ isolation of midwives by different groups. Public Contribution Reducing risk and protecting midwives from infectious diseases will improve the workforce, reduce the number of hospital stays, reduce the cost of hospital services, improve birth outcomes and indirectly improve family, community and national economies. Conclusion Due to the system's failure to provide psychological support, protective environment and isolation rooms for confirmed or suspected cases put midwives at a higher risk of contracting the virus and had to work in a stressful environment. In addition to having the right tools, midwives must also receive emotional and psychological support in order to be at their best. The system must ensure that midwives are ready for uncertain times, such as pandemic infectious disease outbreaks, by providing protective work place environment such as personal protective equipment, psychological support and isolation room for confirmed COVID-19 cases.