Abstract
Maternal mortality in Malawi remains one of the highest in the world, at 675 per 100,000 live births, from 1,120 per 100,000 live births in 1990, (WHO, 2013). MDG 5A aims at reducing maternal mortality by 75 percent by 2015. The government of Malawi, through its development partners initiated various projects that focused on Thaddeus and Maine‟s „Three Delays Model‟ to help reduce the MMR. Despite this improvement, there is need to reduce the figures even lower. A descriptive study that used mixed methods to collect secondary and primary data through semi-structured interviews to assess the prevalence of and preparedness for obstetric emergencies at a private clinic in Lilongwe. A probabistic quota sampling method was used to select participants, these comprised of nurses, clinical officers and doctors who provide emergency obstetric care services.
The findings revealed that hemorrhage, (38.1 percent), obstructed/prolonged labour, (41.6 percent) and pre/eclampsia, (ten percent) were the leading obstetric complications. Institutional policies, an enabling environment and support services were factors that facilitate access to quality emergency obstetric care services at the private clinic. A project that will formulate a standard and objective risk and quality management tool for BEmOC as well as CEmOC facilities would help to promote SBAs preparedness for obstetric emergencies.