The Staha Project: promoting respectful and attentive care in Tanzania
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN48258486 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN48258486 |
| Protocol serial number | GG001823 |
| Sponsor | Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (USA) |
| Funders | Udenrigsministeriet, United States Agency for International Development Translating Research into Action (TRAction) Project (USA) |
- Submission date
- 25/09/2014
- Registration date
- 24/10/2014
- Last edited
- 17/07/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
There is growing evidence that suggests that some women giving birth suffer disrespectful and abusive treatment at the hands of their health care providers and the health system in general. This includes, among other things, being shouted at, threats to withhold health care, physical abuse and leaving them to fend for themselves at time of need. This treatment violates the fundamental right of every woman to be treated with dignity within the health care system. It may stop women from seeking care at health facilities and undermine efforts to reduce the death rates of women who are having, or have recently had, a baby. The aim of this study is to identify the type of abuse experienced, the number of women affected, the root causes of the abuse and the consequences of it, in order to develop and test a evidence-based programme to prevent this treatment from happening.
Who can participate?
Females aged at least 15 who have given birth in the last year and live in the immediate catchment areas of the study facilities, or who have been discharged after a delivery in a health facility in the study facilities.
What does the study involve?
This project is run in two districts of Tanga region in northeastern Tanzania: Korogwe district (intervention district) and Muheza district (comparison district). In order to measure just how widespread the problem is, all women who have given birth discharged from one of the study facilities over a particular 4 month period are invited for an interview to talk about their experiences. A random number of these women are then followed up 6-8 weeks later. Focus groups and in-depth interviews are used for formative research as well as to examine perspectives on the nature and causes of the problem. Independent observations of deliveries in two of the facilities are also done and the women discharged after birth given exit questionnaires. After the collection and analysis of this baseline data, the evidence-based programme (intervention) takes place over a 12-18 month period in the Korogwe district. This involves the adaptation of a patient-provider charter and a quality improvement process which involves taking steps to improve respectful care. Muheza District, the comparison, are provided with the findings of the baseline research and participate only in the first planning meeting to interpret the data.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There will be no immediate direct benefit for the participants at the time of interview, but there should be future benefits if we can identify ways to reduce disrespectful and abusive treatment of women during childbirth. There will be minimal risks to women who agree to participate in focus group discussions, exit questionnaires and follow-up interviews. Patients requiring support following talking about any experience of depression, physical abuse, and rape are referred to mental health nurses located at nearby hospitals. To prepare for potential situations where the study observers may deem the safety or life of the patient to be endangered or where despite adequate care, the patient is deteriorating, observers will call senior staff for assistance.
Where is the study run from?
The study is conducted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health,
Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health in partnership with the Ifakara Health Institute and local government in Korogwe and Muheza Districts of Tanzania.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2011 to June 2011
Who is funding the study?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark and the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its Translating Research into Action (TRAction) Project.
Who is the main contact?
Lynn Freedman
lpf1@columbia.edu
Contact information
Scientific
Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program (AMDD)
Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
60 Haven Ave, B3
New York
10032
United States of America
| lpf1@cumc.columbia.edu |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Quasi-random pre and post comparison group study |
| Secondary study design | Quasi-random pre and post comparison group study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | The Staha Project: promoting respectful and attentive care in Tanzania: a quasi-random, pre and post comparison group study |
| Study acronym | Staha |
| Study objectives | This study hypothesizes that understanding the prevalence, nature, and severity of drivers of disrespect and abuse during childbirth will point to locally-feasible program activities which can reduce the incidence of this problem, thereby increasing health service utilization and ultimately improving maternal health outcomes. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Columbia University (USA), 1/3/2011, ref. IRB-AAAI1341 2. Ifakara Health Institute (Tanzania), 5/3/2011, ref. IHI/IRB/No: 05 3. National Institute of Medical Research (Tanzania), 11/5/2011, ref. NIMR/HQ/R.8a/Vol.IX/144 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Disrespect and abuse experienced by women while delivering in health care facilities |
| Intervention | The intervention process involves two main, interacting components: 1. The adaptation of a patient-provider charter 2. A quality improvement (QI) process in the maternity ward in the district hospital. The duration of the intervention will be 12-18 months The patient-provider charter in Tanzania was adopted at the national level and written in broad terms for further adaptation at local levels. Similar to other settings, the charter was never implemented at national level or adapted at local level. A small group of stakeholders from different district boards will be chosen to review and adapt the charter for district level. Then, each study facility (n=4) will perform its own adaptation of the charter with communities within the facilities catchment areas. Community leaders and health system managers will take actions to fulfill their obligations, including support to health providers Intervention facilities will partake in a facility-based, modified quality improvement process to improve respectful care. The maternity team will use both the baseline data from the Staha project and the standards emerging from the charter as the criteria. Each 1-3 months, the maternity team will choose a new practice to adopt in relation to these standards. They will then work to implement and measure change for the chosen standard. Participants will include all health facility staff that work in the maternity ward and, depending on the standard being addressed, will include staff from other relevant parts of the facility. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Reported disrespect and abuse: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Facility utilization |
| Completion date | 30/06/2011 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 1668 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Exit interviews: All women 15 years or older discharged after a delivery in the study facilities during a four month period 2. Community follow-up interviews: Women randomly selected from those who complete an exit interview and consent to a follow-up interview in their home 3. Observations: Women who deliver at the 2 study hospitals and the health providers in the maternity wards during the month of observation 4. Qualitative interviews: health providers, community members, health managers, local government officials, regional and national health system stakeholders |
| Key exclusion criteria | N/A |
| Date of first enrolment | 28/02/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/06/2011 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Tanzania
- United States of America
Study participating centre
10032
United States of America
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 11/07/2017 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
17/07/2017: Publication reference added.
