Assessing the quality of health facilities providing antenatal care services in Bor, South Sudan

Introduction: Maternal and perinatal mortality remain a major challenge in developing countries, including South Sudan, where rates are among the highest in the world. Providing adequate antenatal care is regarded as a cornerstone of maternal and perinatal health care and is expected to have a considerable impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of health facilities providing antenatal care services in Bor, South Sudan. Method: Data were collected from six health facilities providing antenatal care in Bor town in June 2023. The availability of equipment for assessing pregnant women and foetuses at the facilities and the qualifications of the health care workers who provided care were assessed. Results: Not all equipment considered necessary for antenatal care was available in every facility. Three of the six facilities had all three: a blood pressure (BP) apparatus, an examination couch or bed, and a thermometer. While all facilities had a thermometer, one had a BP apparatus and a couch, and only three had an examination couch. For foetal assessment, only one facility had an obstetric calendar, one had a tape measure for fundal height measurement, and four had Pinard’s foetal stethoscope. For measuring nutritional status, onlytwo facilities had adult mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes, weighing scales, and height measurements for calculating BMI. Of the 18 workers who provided antenatal care, 10 were not health professionals. Conclusion: Health facilities providing antenatal care in Bor should be equipped with all necessary tools and staffed with trained health workers to improve maternal health outcomes.