Fistula Death Reporting Form

The form is intended to be used in conjunction with the Roadmap to accelerate reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The development of the Fistula Death Reporting Form was led by the Clinical Department of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with other departments and divisions at the Ministry of Health. Financial and technical assistance was provided by EngenderHealth, UNFPA, and AMREF. A Technical Working Group consisting of various experts was involved in the development of the document. The form is divided into two phases: immediate notification of the death and detailed mortality report. Phase 1 requires the person who witnessed the death to notify the relevant immediate supervisor or head within 3 days of the health facility being aware of the death. Phase 2 requires the detailed mortality report to be made within 2 weeks of the health facility learning of the death and following comprehensive discussions and clinical reviews. The form includes sections for reporting the patient's demographic information, medical history, pre-operative physical and lab findings, type of procedure, and anaesthesia used. It also includes tables for recording vital signs during surgery and for the first 6 hours after surgery. A section is provided for describing the events leading up to the patient's death in chronological order, including symptoms, differential diagnoses, and actions taken. The form is intended to be used by health facilities to report deaths related to fistula treatment and care. It is hoped that this tool will be used to guide all stakeholders in auditing deaths during fistula treatment and care in Uganda. The government has instituted measures to accelerate the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality, including the development of the Roadmap to accelerate reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite these efforts, women are still succumbing to complications of pregnancy, particularly obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula is the single most important complication of pregnancy, affecting young girls who are poor, illiterate, and from rural areas. In 2006, 2.63% of women of reproductive age reported experiencing symptoms of obstetric fistula immediately after birth. The government and Ministry of Health are reiterating their commitment towards eliminating this condition through audit and best practice. The Fistula Death Reporting Form is intended to guide policy makers, service providers, and all stakeholders in auditing, identifying possible causes of death, and acting on recommendations during treatment and care of female genital fistulae. The form is a critical tool in the efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in Uganda. It provides a standardized framework for reporting deaths related to fistula treatment and care, allowing for the identification of trends and patterns in these deaths. This information can be used to inform policy and programmatic decisions aimed at improving the quality of care for women with obstetric fistula. The use of the Fistula Death Reporting Form is expected to contribute to the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality in Uganda. By providing a standardized framework for reporting deaths related to fistula treatment and care, the form will enable the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and develop targeted interventions to address these issues.