ICODA

Description of the research

The research was a secondary analysis of data collected among women who received antenatal and delivery services at Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda for the period before during and immediately post the COVID19 outbreak (i.e. Hospital antenatal, maternal and neonatal attendance for the period January 2020 to October 2021). The objective of the analysis was to assess for the adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes that can be attributed to the COVID19 pandemic. The period of analysis was stratified into pre-COVID, COVID and Immediate post-COVID. Pregnancy and infant outcomes were compared across the three time points to assess the adverse outcomes attributable to the pandemic. Results from the analysis was also intended to inform the development of a visualization dashboard that would be available and used by healthcare workers to inform their decisions during service delivery.

The data dictionary

The data dictionary was compiled to provide reference for anyone accessing and using the data from the Electronic Health Record. The antenatal and labour & delivery registers used by healthcare workers to record patient information while offering services at the hospital were reviewed to identify variables included in the registers. The registers are part of the Health Management Information System tools developed by Ministry of Health and are used in all health facilities country-wide. 

The variables were reviewed during a stakeholder’s workshop that comprised of Ministry of Health officials, Kawempe Hospital management, heads of departments and selected health workers with the objective of identifying those that would be useful for monitoring pregnancies with potential adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. During the stakeholder meetings, variable definitions were documented to provide clarity and consistency when using the data from the Electronic Health Record.