%0 Journal Article
%T Use of facility assessment data to improve reproductive health service delivery in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
%A Sara E Casey
%A Kathleen T Mitchell
%A Immacul¨Ĥe Amisi
%A Martin Haliza
%A Blandine Aveledi
%A Prince Kalenga
%A Judy Austin
%J Conflict and Health
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1752-1505-3-12
%X Data were collected from facility assessments at nine general referral hospitals in five provinces in the DRC during March, April and November 2007. Interviews, observation and clinical record review were used to assess the general infrastructure, EmOC and FP services provided, and the infection prevention environment in each of the facilities.None of the nine hospitals met the criteria for classification as an EmOC facility (either basic or comprehensive). Most facilities lacked any FP services. Shortage of trained staff, essential supplies and medicines and poor infection prevention practices were consistently documented. All facilities had poor systems for routine monitoring of RH services, especially with regard to EmOC.Women's lives can be saved and their well-being improved with functioning RH services. As the DRC stabilizes, IRC and CARE in partnership with the local Ministry of Health and other service provision partners are improving RH services by: 1) providing necessary equipment and renovations to health facilities; 2) improving supply management systems; 3) providing comprehensive competency-based training for health providers in RH and infection prevention; 4) improving referral systems to the hospitals; 5) advocating for changes in national RH policies and protocols; and 6) providing technical assistance for monitoring and evaluation of key RH indicators. Together, these initiatives will improve the quality and accessibility of RH services in the DRC - services which are urgently needed and to which Congolese women are entitled by international human rights law.Complex humanitarian emergencies caused by armed conflict are characterized by social disruption, population displacement and collapse of public health infrastructure [1]. Humanitarian assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) requires specific attention to ensure that the reproductive health (RH) rights of the population are recognized. Women living in conflict and post-c
%U http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/3/1/12