Abstract:
Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality are unacceptably high in Zanzibar. Maternal
mortality and neonatal mortality ratio stand at 350 per 100,000 live births and 29 per 1,000 live births
respectively as of 2018. Addressing challenges facing maternal and newborn health requires among
others, the assurance of essential medicine and equipment to deliver evidence based interventions. This
paper reports evidence gathered on the availability of essential medicines and equipment in providing
Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmoNC) services in Zanzibar.
Methods: A cross-sectional mixed methods study design was used to collect information on the
availability of drugs and equipment from all health facilities providing delivery services in Zanzibar.
Semi-structure interview guide was used to carry in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health facility in-charges
while observation on availability of essential medicine and equipment for EmONC was carried using
standard observation guide as adopted from Averting Maternal Death and Disability program.
