Management of diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles: recommendations for swedish national guidelines.

Background: Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle is a common condition. There are no generally accepted criteria for diagnosis or treatment of diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle, which causes uncertainty for the patient and healthcare providers alike.

Methods: The consensus document was created by a group of Swedish surgeons and based on a structured literature review and practical experience.

Effectiveness of maternal referral system in a rural setting: a case study from Rufiji district, Tanzania.

Background: The functional referral system is important in backing-up antenatal, labour and delivery, and postnatal services in the primary level of care facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the maternal referral system through determining proportion of women reaching the hospitals after referral advice, appropriateness of the referral indications, reasons for non-compliance and to find out if compliance to referrals makes a difference in the perinatal outcome.

Methods: A follow-up study was conducted in Rufiji rural district in Tanzania.

Quality of antenatal care in rural Tanzania: counselling on pregnancy danger signs.

Background: The high rate of antenatal care attendance in sub-Saharan Africa, should facilitate provision of information on signs of potential pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to assess quality of antenatal care with respect to providers' counselling of pregnancy danger signs in Rufiji district, Tanzania.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 primary health facilities.

Rural Tanzanian women's awareness of danger signs of obstetric complications.

Background: Awareness of the danger signs of obstetric complications is the essential first step in accepting appropriate and timely referral to obstetric and newborn care. The objectives of this study were to assess women's awareness of danger signs of obstetric complications and to identify associated factors in a rural district in Tanzania.

Methods: A total of 1118 women who had been pregnant in the past two years were interviewed.

Eclampsia in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- incidence, outcome, and the role of antenatal care.

Background: In order to assess the effectiveness of antenatal care for prevention of eclampsia, a retrospective case-control study was performed at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All women with eclampsia seen at MNH during 1999-2000 and controls without eclampsia were included.

Methods: The study used a labor ward database and antenatal cards of eclamptic women and non-eclamptic controls.

Are process indicators adequate to assess essential obstetric care at district level?--a case study from Rufiji district, Tanzania.

To assess coverage and quality of essential obstetric care (EOC) and the appropriateness of using processindicators, a 3-month follow-up study was done in Rufiji district, Tanzania, involving 2 hospitals, 4 health centres, 10 large dispensaries and 10 randomly selected small dispensaries. Data collection was done on process indicators as suggested by UNICEF/WHO/UNFPA (UN) and 'unmet obstetric need (UON) for major obstetric intervention (MOI)'. With standard values in (brackets), the district had two comprehensive EOC facilities, births in EOC amounted to 62% (15%), met need for EOC was 76% (100%), caesarean section (C/S) rate 4.

Impact of El Niño and malaria on birthweight in two areas of Tanzania with different malaria transmission patterns.

Background: Malaria infection increases low birthweight especially in primigravidae. Malaria epidemics occur when weather conditions favour this vector borne disease. Forecasting using the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) may assist in anticipating epidemics and reducing the impact of a disease which is an important cause of low birthweight.

Management of hypertension in pregnancy as a quality indicator of antenatal care in rural Tanzania.

To assess the ability of antenatal care to manage hypertension in pregnancy, a cross-sectional study involving 379 pregnant women was conducted in 16 randomly selected antenatal clinics in Rufiji district of Tanzania. We observed necessary structural availability, provider client interaction, interviewed women attending antenatal clinics, and measured their blood pressure. Measurements made by observers and health workers were compared.

Quality assessment of the antenatal program for anaemia in rural Tanzania.

Objective: To assess the quality of antenatal care with respect to anaemia, a common health problem, in a developing country.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Rufiji rural district, coastal Tanzania.