The Impact of Structured Infection Prevention Training on Maternal Sepsis in Rural Private Not For Profit Health Facilities in Uganda
1
Program, LifeNet International, Kampala, Uganda
2
Program, LifeNet International, Washington, D.C, United States
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2190
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Maternal sepsis remains a preventable cause of maternal morbidity in Uganda, often linked to gaps in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Strengthening IPC capacity at lower-level private not-for-profit facilities is critical to improving maternal outcomes. LifeNet International implements structured IPC training and mentorship as part of its clinical capacity-building program. This analysis examined changes in maternal sepsis and IPC compliance trends following the implementation of LifeNet’s IPC intervention in partner facilities.
METHODS:
A descriptive trend analysis using maternal sepsis data abstracted from the National District Health Information System (DHIS2), supplemented with program monitoring data from LifeNet International across 127 health facilities between 2021 and 2024. The intervention targeted four IPC domains: hand hygiene, instrument sterilization, medical waste management, and clean delivery practices; and was delivered through practical annual centralized training complemented by repeated on-site mentorship. IPC performance was measured using a standardized Quality Scorecard(QSC) administered at baseline and post-intervention, producing facility-level scores for each IPC domain. The QSC is a LifeNet program standardized tool measuring adherence to clinical standards, patient safety practices, documentation, and management systems with an 80% competency score.
RESULTS:
Following implementation, overall reported maternal sepsis cases declined by 17%, from 82 cases in 2022 to 68 cases in 2024. Concurrently, IPC performance improved across all assessed domains. Facility-level Quality Scorecard scores increased for hand hygiene (38% to 84%), instrument sterilization (16% to 81%), clean delivery practices (42% to 83%), and medical waste management (73% to 87%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Overall improvements in maternal sepsis and IPC compliance trends suggests that structured IPC training and mentorship strengthen maternal care quality and embedding training within routine performance monitoring reinforces consistent clinical practice. Scaling this integrated model alongside system-level interventions can improve maternal outcomes in similar low-resource settings.
Maternal sepsis remains a preventable cause of maternal morbidity in Uganda, often linked to gaps in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Strengthening IPC capacity at lower-level private not-for-profit facilities is critical to improving maternal outcomes. LifeNet International implements structured IPC training and mentorship as part of its clinical capacity-building program. This analysis examined changes in maternal sepsis and IPC compliance trends following the implementation of LifeNet’s IPC intervention in partner facilities.
METHODS:
A descriptive trend analysis using maternal sepsis data abstracted from the National District Health Information System (DHIS2), supplemented with program monitoring data from LifeNet International across 127 health facilities between 2021 and 2024. The intervention targeted four IPC domains: hand hygiene, instrument sterilization, medical waste management, and clean delivery practices; and was delivered through practical annual centralized training complemented by repeated on-site mentorship. IPC performance was measured using a standardized Quality Scorecard(QSC) administered at baseline and post-intervention, producing facility-level scores for each IPC domain. The QSC is a LifeNet program standardized tool measuring adherence to clinical standards, patient safety practices, documentation, and management systems with an 80% competency score.
RESULTS:
Following implementation, overall reported maternal sepsis cases declined by 17%, from 82 cases in 2022 to 68 cases in 2024. Concurrently, IPC performance improved across all assessed domains. Facility-level Quality Scorecard scores increased for hand hygiene (38% to 84%), instrument sterilization (16% to 81%), clean delivery practices (42% to 83%), and medical waste management (73% to 87%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Overall improvements in maternal sepsis and IPC compliance trends suggests that structured IPC training and mentorship strengthen maternal care quality and embedding training within routine performance monitoring reinforces consistent clinical practice. Scaling this integrated model alongside system-level interventions can improve maternal outcomes in similar low-resource settings.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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