Diagnostic error during antenatal care visit in selected health facilities of Ethiopia: a survey

Abstract

Diagnostic error in antenatal care is a critical concern within the broader challenge of diagnostic errors in healthcare. Antenatal care plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus during pregnancy. As a result, missed or delayed antenatal care visits or diagnosis errors of maternity complications affect both the mother and the baby. Diagnostic errors in this context refer to mistakes or inaccuracies in identifying and interpreting medical conditions, risks, or abnormalities related to the pregnancy. Several factors contribute to diagnostic errors in antenatal care, and understanding these challenges is essential for improving the overall quality of maternal and fetal healthcare. Delivering an improved approach to underrating diagnostic error requires the combined usage of non-technological and technological solutions. Identifying the factors contributing to diagnostic errors among healthcare professionals can lead to targeted interventions, training programs, and system level changes to prevent or minimize such errors. In this study, the prevalence of DE among health care professionals, pregnant women, and their relatives, and the frequency of occurrence of DE among health workers in selected health facilities in Ethiopia has been assessed. The data was collected using a questionnaire. The assessment results show that the major causes of diagnostic errors (mainly incorrect diagnosis) are identified as loss of patient records (36.4%), lack of proper laboratory (22.7%), and an insufficient number of health care professionals (13.6%). The leading effects of diagnostic error recognized are disease aggravation (58.3%) and permanent disability (25.0%). The research shows that providing an accurate diagnosis is crucial for avoiding risky obstetric outcomes and, as a result, reducing morbidity and mortality due to complications of pregnancy.