Infection prevention training of trained birth attendants and nurse supervisors in primary health centres in rural Cameroon

Abstract

The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board (CBCHB) Life Abundant Primary health care program (LAP) received the 2010 IFIC-Covidien Grant. The primary project objectives were (1) to provide infection prevention training to Trained Birth Attendants (TBAs) who deliver women in rural Primary Health Centres (PHC) and to Nurse Supervisors who supervise and monitor the medical and maternity care provided in the PHCs, and (2) to implement pilot infection prevention programs in 5 PHCs. The training pre-test showed that 15% of the TBAs had adequate knowledge of infection prevention. Upon completion of the training, 82.5% of TBAs exhibited adequate knowledge of infection prevention on the post-test. The Nurse Supervisor’s knowledge also increased from 54.5% having adequate knowledge on the pre-test to 100% upon the post-test. Infection Prevention Pilot Programs were implemented in 5 PHCs with each PHC maintaining appropriate infection prevention practices and equipment/supplies after 6 months. Introduction Cameroon is a country in sub-Saharan Africa with a population estimated at more than 19.5 million (2009).1 It consists of many tribal groups, each with its own unique language and culture. The climate varies with the terrain, from tropical forests along the coasts to semiarid and hot in the north. It is estimated that 56% of deliveries occur in rural areas of Cameroon with 44.2% of rural women delivered by skilled birth attendants.2 In 2008, the Cameroon maternal mortality ratio was estimated to be 705 per 100,000 live births with an Infant mortality Rate of 74 per 1000 live births.3 Corresponding author Dorothy J. meyer 7409 Bullion Hill Road, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA email: DotJmeyer@aol.com