A baseline audit of post-vasectomy follow-up at three Cape Town district health facilities
Background: Our study focuses on vasectomies, an underutilised contraception method worldwide. Little is known about post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA) adherence in our setting, which is an essential step in confirming the procedure’s success. We aimed to describe patient adherence to post-vasecto...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2024-10-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6003 |
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| Summary: | Background: Our study focuses on vasectomies, an underutilised contraception method worldwide. Little is known about post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA) adherence in our setting, which is an essential step in confirming the procedure’s success. We aimed to describe patient adherence to post-vasectomy follow-up and the success of procedures performed by different surgeon categories at three Cape Town district health facilities.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive audit. We extracted sociodemographic and procedural information from theatre records and patient folders. The PVSA results were retrieved from Groote Schuur Hospital’s Reproductive Medicine Unit.
Results: The records of 270 patients who underwent vasectomies in local district-level facilities from September 2016 to July 2021 were included. Only 122 (45.2%) semen analysis results were retrievable, of which 115 (94.2%) showed that the procedure was successful. Incomplete patient records significantly impacted the study. A data-collection instrument and implementing standardised stationery were developed, which some sites already use. These measures are designed to ensure more comprehensive datasets for future audits.
Conclusion: The study’s findings have identified flaws in record-keeping practices at the three study sites, a crucial step towards improving post-vasectomy care. Tracking procedural success and patient adherence to post-vasectomy semen analyses using the implemented stationery may assist future research and help drive quality improvement projects.
Contribution: This audit strengthens our understanding of improving this underutilised family planning option in the district health services. In partnership with the local teams, a revised clinical care pathway was developed to inform the delivery of an evidence-informed vasectomy service. |
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| ISSN: | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |