Healthcare workers’ experiences of reproductive and maternal healthcare : a minor field study in Tanzania

Sammanfattning: Background  Maternal health is described as the health a woman experiences during pregnancy, delivery and after the baby is born. Every year an estimation is made that 210 million women are pregnant and 140 million babies are being born. However, the care around pregnant women and during deliveries varies depending on what country a woman is located in. Above all, science shows that pregnant women in Sub-Saharan regions have a 46 times higher risk of suffering from maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women in high-income countries. Tanzania is a country within the Sub-Saharan region with the highest numbers of births, yet with limited access to both hospitals and staff which affects mothers and children. Limitations are caused because of poverty, for instance the majority of Tanzania's population live in rural areas where no healthcare is accessible, if the healthcare does not go to those areas.  Aim  The aim was to describe healthcare workers' experiences of reproductive and maternal health at Nkinga Referral Hospital in Tanzania.  Methods  This study was based on a Minor Field Study [MFS] in Tanzania. The chosen method was a qualitative study design with an inductive approach. The interview questions were of semi structured character and in total eight healthcare workers were interviewed at Nkinga Referral Hospital. The data was analyzed with the help of a manifest content analysis.  Findings  The data analysis resulted in three main categories and eight subcategories that reelected the healthcare workers' experiences. Overall, healthcare workers described the preventive work, experienced difficulties, maternal healthcare in general as well as the wishes regarding possible changes in today's reproductive and maternal health.  Conclusion  The healthcare workers' experiences regarding the provision of care for pregnant women differ. Existing deficiencies that have been discovered within reproductive and maternal health are insufficient economic resources as well as equipment. While this unavailability, the healthcare workers experienced the care provided was remarkably affected and the inability to provide good quality care. Because of this, the provision of resources is essential for the ability of healthcare workers to provide good quality care to pregnant women.