Implementation of basic antenatal care approach in Ethekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess implementation of the Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) approach in eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal. A descriptive quantitative research design guided by Oakland’s Total Quality Management model was used to conduct the study. The study was conducted in the two health authorities that are responsible for providing the public health care services in eThekwini district. Data were collected from 12 primary health care (PHC) clinics. Several variations were noted with regards to how the two health authorities implemented the BANC approach. These included staffing in the PHC clinics, operation days and hours, performance of staff, professionalism and courteousness of staff towards clients. The study highlights the need for standardised policies on allocation, training and in-service education of staff and operation days and hours in the PHC clinics in order to ensure a standardised approach to service delivery. Implementation of the BANC approach in the district could be improved and or strengthened by the two health authorities complementing each other by sharing good practices and benchmarking from each other.

Keywords: Antenatal care, basic antenatal care, health authority, primary health care, South Africa