Abstract
Purpose
In Malawi as demand for maternity services continues to surpass supply and overstretch frontline healthcare providers, it is important to improve the quality of maternity care to address the burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a method through which healthcare providers can make organisational change to improve clinical care and their working lives. It harnesses the energy and ideas of staff through a four-stage cycle: Discover (how it is now), Dream (of what it could be), Design (concrete plans) and Destiny (implement plans).
The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of implementing Appreciative Inquiry in three district level facilities in Malawi using participatory aproach.
Methods
Between April 2015 and January, 2016 we adapted and implemented AI through participatory action cycle sessions.
Findings:
We have successfully implemented AI with contributions from the entire ward team (patient attendants, nurses, clinical officers and clerks). Each team chose a different focus for their activities including ‘team spirit’ and ‘infection prevention ’. In two hospitals there have been some steps towards change, driven largely by key midwives team leaders. In one hospital the team have lobbied the management to have security guards to support their ‘traffic control’ policies in addition to successfully implementing the removal of shoes before entering the nursery and kangaroo wards. Another team has reduced the number of incidences of overfull sharps bins and waste in the incorrect bins on the ward. The main challenges faced were from constantly changing teams and the lack of time and resources to dedicate to the change process.
Conclusion
It is feasible to implement AI in maternity settings in Malawi when the care providers stay positive. However, the presence of committed champions seems important and health system challenges necessitate realistic goal setting; further study is needed to understand the effectiveness of the intervention
Sigma Membership
Chi at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Appreciative Inquiry, Malawi, Maternity Services
Recommended Citation
Dembo, Zione and Merriel, Abi, "Feasibility of Using Appreciative Inquiry to Improve Maternity Services in District Hospitals of Malawi" (2017). INRC (Congress). 142.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2017/posters_2017/142
Conference Name
28th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Dublin, Ireland
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Feasibility of Using Appreciative Inquiry to Improve Maternity Services in District Hospitals of Malawi
Dublin, Ireland
Purpose
In Malawi as demand for maternity services continues to surpass supply and overstretch frontline healthcare providers, it is important to improve the quality of maternity care to address the burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a method through which healthcare providers can make organisational change to improve clinical care and their working lives. It harnesses the energy and ideas of staff through a four-stage cycle: Discover (how it is now), Dream (of what it could be), Design (concrete plans) and Destiny (implement plans).
The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of implementing Appreciative Inquiry in three district level facilities in Malawi using participatory aproach.
Methods
Between April 2015 and January, 2016 we adapted and implemented AI through participatory action cycle sessions.
Findings:
We have successfully implemented AI with contributions from the entire ward team (patient attendants, nurses, clinical officers and clerks). Each team chose a different focus for their activities including ‘team spirit’ and ‘infection prevention ’. In two hospitals there have been some steps towards change, driven largely by key midwives team leaders. In one hospital the team have lobbied the management to have security guards to support their ‘traffic control’ policies in addition to successfully implementing the removal of shoes before entering the nursery and kangaroo wards. Another team has reduced the number of incidences of overfull sharps bins and waste in the incorrect bins on the ward. The main challenges faced were from constantly changing teams and the lack of time and resources to dedicate to the change process.
Conclusion
It is feasible to implement AI in maternity settings in Malawi when the care providers stay positive. However, the presence of committed champions seems important and health system challenges necessitate realistic goal setting; further study is needed to understand the effectiveness of the intervention