Availability and utilization of obstetric and newborn care in Guinea: A national needs assessment

Objective: To assess the availability and utilization of emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) in Guinea given the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

Methods: We used the Guinea 2012 needs assessment data collected via a national cross-sectional census of health facilities conducted from September to October 2012. All public, private, and faith-based health facilities that performed at least one delivery during the period of the study were included.

Results: A total of 502 health facilities were visited, of which 81 were hospitals. Only 15 facilities were classified as fully functioning EmONC facilities, all of which were reference hospitals. None of the first level health facilities were fully functioning EmONC facilities. The ratio of availability of EmONC was one fully functioning EmONC facility for 745 415 inhabitants. The institutional delivery rate was 32.3% and the proportion of all births in EmONC facilities was 7.1%. Met need for EmONC was 12.2%. Among 201 maternal deaths in EmONC facilities, 69 were due to indirect causes. The intrapartum and very early neonatal death rate was 39 deaths per 1000 live births.

Conclusion: The study showed low availability of EmONC services and underutilization of the available services. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the effect of the current policy of user fees exemption for deliveries and prenatal care in Guinea.