Mornitoring availability of blood on sustainability of maternal health services_a case of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

Abstract

The research study was carried out in order to assess monitoring availability of blood on sustainability of maternal health services at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. The general objective of the study was to assess monitoring availability of blood to on sustainability of maternal health services at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. The specific objectives of the study were to assess availability of blood on sustainability of maternal health services at Queen Elizabeth central hospital, to investigate rate of maternal survival to ensure on sustainability of maternal health services at Queen Elizabeth central hospital and to assess blood data management to on sustainability of maternal health services at Queen Elizabeth central hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. This study used descriptive survey research design. There were 45 Laboratory staff at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), so the population size was 45. Census approach was used whereby the total population would be used as sample size. Therefore, the sample size was 45 and 45 Laboratory staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital would be issued with closed ended questionnaires so that they may respond to questions regarding to assessment of availability of blood on maternal health. Only 39 laboratory staff answered the questionnaires. Theory of change and evaluation theory was applied in this research. The dependent variable was sustainability of maternal health services and the independent variable is monitoring availability of blood which was defined by availability of blood, rate of maternal survival and blood data management. Data was coded, cleaned, verified and analyzed. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. All the findings were presented in tables.The results showed that there is need to improve availability of blood on sustainability of maternal health services at QECH, Blantyre, Malawi. These findings provided an opportunity for future research to be carried out in the same field. The conclusion was that the hospital mostly had sufficient blood supply, most of the women give birth successfully after receiving blood and the hospital tried their best in managing database for blood. It was recommended that QECH management should make strategies in improving blood for emergencies, more staff in wards to be recruited and strategies for blood data management has to be very effective. Further research would be recommended on the influence of partnerships among stakeholders towards sustainability of maternal health services at QECH in Blantyre, Malawi.