IATROGENIC INFECTIONS

DANGERS YOU MUST BE AWARE OF.

IATROGENIC INFECTIONS

These are infections introduced into the body of a client (patient) by a physician, therapist or an unskilled birth attendant in the course of medical or herbal treatment.

These infections can cause miscarriages in pregnancies, still birth or inability to reconceive after delivery.

A pregnant woman can get iatrogenic infections through the following ways:

1.   USING BARE HANDS FOR EXAMINATIONS: the using of bare hands to examine labouring women can introduce lots of germs into the body, so we urge our birth attendants to always use gloves for examination. And to our pregnant women, in order to be on the safe side we encourage you to go about with your gloves in your hand bags, especially when your delivery date is close. This is because labour might start where you cannot get to a safe birth place and you might need to be examined on the spot. In summary, never allow yourself to be examined with bare hands.

2.   USE OF UNSTERILE GLOVES: this involves using gloves that has already been used to examine laboring women, or using gloves that has been exposed to germs and infections to examine women in labour.

3.   INSERTION OF UNSTERILE MATERIALS: Any material that has been exposed to germs should not be inserted into the body of a pregnant woman to avoid iatrogenic infections.

4.   MULTIPLE VAGINAL CHECKS: Avoid multiple vaginal examinations to lessen the chances of iatrogenic infections. Because even when you use your sterile gloves, there are always germs around the perineum (The general region between the anus and the genital organs) and the more vaginal check, the more the chances of those germs getting into the body.

How to do a proper vaginal check

·       The first check is to know if she is actually in establish labour or not (i.e. if the cervix is open up to “4cm”). Then you can admit her.

·       The second check is an hour later, where you check the progress of labour, knowing that she was 4cm so in one hour time she should be 5cm or more. After that is done, there’s no point examining her again unless she is ready to push. Three to four vaginal checks should be enough for normal labour process.

More of this information you can get during our monthly HEALTH WORKERS SEMINAR coming up every fourth Thursdays of every month at the safe motherhood center,  you can also get our books or call 08063389935. Email: info@smeei.com

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·        Or you can watch us on NTA every Tuesday 2pm and on RSTV Thursday 10:3pm.

·        Visit our website at;

·        www.smeei.com