Résumé

Objectif global : Evaluer le niveau de performance du personnel paramédical des hôpitaux de district et des centres de santé de la ville de Yaoundé en urgences obstétricales.
Méthodologie : Il s’agit d’une étude transversale et descriptive menée dans 3 hôpitaux de District et 4 centres de santé (publics et confessionnels) de la ville de Yaoundé. L’étude a été conduite pendant 3 mois de mai 2005 à juillet 2005. Les prestataires sanitaires des consultations prénatales et ceux des salles d’accouchement ont participé à l’étude.
Résultats : Soixante et un prestataires sanitaires ont été interrogés dont 80 % sont infirmières-accoucheuses, 13 % aides-soignantes, 7 % sages-femmes. La majeure partie de l’échantillon a été recrutée dans les hôpitaux de district. Une connaissance parfaite des signes d’alarme d’une complication obstétricale était notée chez 65,79 % des prestataires des soins. 60,7 % de ces prestataires de soins n’ont jamais suivi de formation en urgence obstétricale.
Conclusion : Le niveau de connaissance des personnels paramédicaux prestataires des accouchements et des soins en matière d’urgence obstétricale est insuffisant.

Summary

The principal determinants of maternal mortality identified in the literature point to the lack of trained personnel, lack of material or equipment, inappropriate physical structures, inadequate patient management, a poor referral system, long distances to travel to hospital and the lack of transport. It remains a formidable challenge to remedy all these deficiencies in a resource-poor country with too few physicians and fully trained technical health personnel.
Objective: To evaluate the level of performance in emergency obstetrics of health personnel of district hospital and health centers in Yaounde.
Methodology: It was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted in 3 district hospital and 4 health centers of Yaounde for a period of 3 months. Heath personnel of prenatal consultation and those of labour and delivery ward attended to the study.
Results: Sixty one health personnel were questioned in which 80% are nurses, 13% assistant­nurses and 7% midwives. The major part of the sample was recruited in the district hospital. Signs of obstetrics complications were perfectly recognised by 65,79% of the health providers. 60,7% of these care providers never attended a training in emergency obstetric.
Conclusion: In order to improve quality of care, health providers concerned with maternal and newborn care need to upgrade their competency and skills, especially in handling obstetric complications. Supportive supervision and environment are essential for the staff to apply their skills consistently after training. These measures, when taking will contribute to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.