Improving Decision-to-Incision Interval (DDI) of Emergency Cesarean Sections Through Mobile-Based Obstetric Emergency System (MORES) and Midwife-Led Triage in Bong County, Liberia: A Quasi-Experimental Study
<b>Background</b>: Delays in emergency cesarean section (CS) remain a major contributor to maternal and neonatal morbidity in low-resource settings. This study evaluated the combined effect of a mobile-based obstetric emergency system (MORES) and a midwife-led triage program on the decision-to-incision interval (DDI) and related outcomes in Liberia. <b>Methods</b>: A quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time series design was conducted in Bong County across two district hospitals receiving referrals from 20 rural health facilities. Seventy-two women referred for emergency CS were observed at baseline, midline, and endline. MORES used WhatsApp-based communication to improve referral coordination, while the triage program trained midwives to rapidly assess cases using a color-coded system. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression. <b>Results</b>: By endline, the median DDI decreased by 117.5 min compared to baseline (95% CI: -205.1 to -29.9). Women were significantly more likely to receive a CS within 75 min (AOR: 11.7; 95% CI: 1.32 to 104.5). No maternal deaths occurred. Neonatal mortality was observed but not significantly associated with DDI. <b>Conclusions</b>: MORES and midwife-led triage substantially improved the timeliness of emergency CS in a resource-constrained setting. These low-cost, feasible strategies warrant further evaluation for sustainability and impact on neonatal outcomes.
Authors
- Jody R. Lori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0564-5783)
- Ha Eun Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1259-6425)
- Philip Veliz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2544-3468)
- Sung‐Hae Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7572-7242)
- Wahdae-Mai Harmon-Gray
- Joseph Sieka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0538-4501)
Institutions
- University of Liberia (LR)
- University of Michigan (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Published
- 2025-10-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101596
- Primary Topic
- Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- United States Agency for International Development
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation