Hospital detention of mothers and their infants at a large provincial hospital: a mixed-methods descriptive case study, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Karen D. Cowgill,Abel Mukengeshayi Ntambue

doi:10.1186/s12978-019-0777-7

Abstract

BackgroundThe practice of detaining people who are unable to pay for health care services they have received is widespread in many parts of the world. We aimed to determine the proportion of women and their infants detained for inability to pay for services received at a provincial hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a 6-week period in 2016. A secondary objective was to determine clinical and administrative staff attitudes and practices about payment for services and detention.MethodsThis mixed-methods descriptive case study included a cross-sectional survey and interviews with key informants.ResultsOver half (52%) of the 85 women who were in the maternity ward at Sendwe Hospital and eligible for discharge between August 5 and September 15, 2016 were detained for 1 to 30 days for outstanding bills of United States dollars (USD) 21 to USD 515. Women who were detained were younger, poorer, and had more obstetric complications and caesarean sections than other women. In addition, over one quarter of the infants born to these women had died during delivery or in the first three days of life. Key informant interviews normalized detention as an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of patient poverty and health system resource constraints.ConclusionsDetention of women and their infants is common at this hospital in the DRC. This represents a violation of human rights and a systemic failure to ensure that all people have access to essential health services and that they not suffer financial hardship due to the price of those services.

Highlights

Plain English summary The practice of detaining people who are unable to pay for health care services they have received is widespread in many parts of the world, it is a violation of human rights
In February 2015, we found women on the maternity ward at the Jason Sendwe Provincial Hospital in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the public referral hospital for the province of Katanga, who were detained for non-payment of fees
Cross-sectional study Over half of the 85 women who were in the maternity ward at Jason Sendwe Hospital and eligible for discharge between August 5 and September 15, 2016 were detained – i.e., they were not issued discharge papers on the expected day because they had not paid some or all of the fees incurred from their or their infant’s care (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The practice of detaining people who are unable to pay for health care services they have received is widespread in many parts of the world. We aimed to determine the proportion of women and their infants detained for inability to pay for services received at a provincial hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a 6-week period in 2016. Forced detention in hospitals -- the practice of detaining people who are unable to pay for health care services they have received -- is widespread in many parts of the world. Some governments have denounced the practice (Zimbabwe; [19]) or legislated against it (Philippines; [34]), but it continues despite official efforts

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