Readiness of health facilities to provide emergency obstetric care in Papua New Guinea: evidence from a cross-sectional survey

Objective: To measure the readiness of health facilities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide obstetric care and other maternal health services.

Design: Cross-sectional study involving random sample of health centres, district/rural hospitals (levels 3 and 4 facilities) and all upper-level hospitals operational at the time of survey. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from health facilities. Setting: Health facilities in PNG. Facility administrators and other facility personnel were interviewed. Number of facility personnel interviewed was usually one for health centres and two or more for hospitals. Participants: 19 upper-level facilities (levels 5–7, provincial, regional and national hospitals) and 60 lower-level facilities (levels 3 and 4, health centres and district/rural hospitals). Outcome measures: Four service-types were used to understand readiness of surveyed health facilities in the provision of maternity care including obstetric care services: (1) facility readiness to provide clinical services; (2) availability of family planning items; (3) availability of maternal and neonatal equipment and materials; and (4) ability to provide emergency obstetric care (EmOC).

Results: 56% of lower-level facilities were not able to provide basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC). Even among higher-level facilities, 16% were not able to perform one or more of the functions required to be considered a BEmOC provider. 11% of level 3 and 4 health facilities were able to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) as compared with 83% of higher-level facilities. Conclusion: Given the high fertility rate and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in PNG, lack of BEmOC at the first level inpatient service providers is a major concern. To improve access to EmOC, level 3 and 4 facilities should be upgraded to at least BEmOC providers. Significant reduction in MMR will require improved access to CEmOC and optimal geographic location approach can identify facilities to be upgraded.