Evaluation of obstetric triage team training for midwives to reduce third delay incidences and enhance timely treatment in Tanzania: Historical controlled study

The health facility environment can influence the incidence of third delay in Tanzania, and delays in receiving appropriate care can significantly contribute to maternal mortality. This study aimed to evaluate an Obstetric Triage Team Training conducted to reduce incidences of third delay by enhancing timely treatment. This was a historical controlled study with a pre-intervention and post-intervention group. The primary outcome was to increase the ratio of obstetric patients assessed within 15 min of arrival at the triage unit. Muhimbili National Hospital located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The intervention was education for all twelve midwives in the Obstetric Triage Team training; Helping Mothers Survive Jhpiego training package was used to teach about Hemorrhage (two days) and HDP (1 day). Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) measured secondary outcomes. IBM SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data. Participants were obstetric patients in pre-intervention group (N = 120) and post-intervention group (N = 143). An increased ratio from 30.8 % to 95.1 % ( p < 0.001) of obstetric patients assessed within 15 min of their waiting time was observed. In the post-intervention group, the ratio of 15 min or less of the waiting time from registration to admission was significantly higher than in the pre-intervention group, this indicated an improvement in triage ( p < 0.001). The post-intervention group demonstrated the positive impact of the midwives training on managing obstetric emergencies such as hemorrhage and HDP. This resulted in a significant reduction in waiting times, suggesting the potential for improved maternal health outcomes.