News on Operational Research in Haiti

MSF LuxOR has been supporting medical programs in Haiti since 2013, through support in routine medical data and operational research studies. A study in Chatuley hospital in Léôgane and one in Tabarre hospital in Port-au-Prince are currently ongoing. Since January 2016, two additional medical studies in collaboration with the Haitian Ministry of health were started.

For published articles on MSF’s cholera centre or surgery, visit www.fieldresearch.msf.org.    

1)    How to best care for low-birthweight or premature babies without enough resources?

Saving and improving lives of premature or low-birthweight babies can be achieved without high technologies or vast resources. An MSF study in Burundi showed that professional training and the use of standardized treatment protocols can effectively reduce mortality and morbidity among low-birthweight or premature babies.

Preliminary analysis from MSFs hospital in Léôgane confirms those findings.

Furthermore, preliminary outcomes show that non-ill low-birthweight babies can be followed up ambulatory, which decongests neonatal care units and is less costly.

Publication is estimated in the 2nd trimester 2016.

2)    Epidemiology of victims of road traffic accident admitted in the emergency unit  of Martissant, Port-au-Prince

Road traffic accidents have been on the rise in Haiti since 2010, mostly a consequence of rapid urbanization, poor road design and absence of protective infrastructure. In MSFs hospital in Martissant neighbourhood, overall, 21% of patients in the emergency department were victims of road traffic accident.

This descriptive study will focus on the characteristics of these cases and patients’ outcomes. Specific information on the profile of the patients (car drivers, motorcyclist, cyclists, pedestrians, age), trends of accidents admitted in the ED, and in which parts of the city accidents happened, will be used to advocate for advance in safety, protection and healthcare measures for road users.

Importantly the study will also look at the time spent between the accident and patients’ admission at the hospital, to assess how the referral systems in place can be improved.

Publication is estimated for the 3rd trimester 2016.

3)    Emergency department care for trauma patients in settings of active conflict versus urban violence: all of the same calibre?

While trauma is worldwide a major cause for mortality and morbidity, the importance of violent trauma cases is considerably higher in certain contexts, such as urban slums, conflict areas or other difficult environments. Adequate hospital care for trauma patients depends on an understanding of the local trauma cases and the patients, and adapting resources and strategies.

In one of the first studies looking at trauma care in diverse contexts, MSF assesses the performance of its standardized trauma care in a context of high urban violence (Port-au-Prince, Haiti) compared to one of active conflict (Kunduz, Afghanistan). Results will underline if standardized care performs well in different contexts and which areas necessitate context-based strategies.  

Publication is estimated in the 1st trimester 2016.

4)    Providing intensive care services in Tabarre hospital, Haiti: who benefits from it and does the model of care work?

With an on-site laboratory, social and mental health services, Tabarre hospital is one of the most resourceful facilities that MSF manages worldwide. Its intensive care unit (ICU) was opened in February 2012 with a capacity of nine beds.

In 2015, the ICU admitted 537 patients. A new study will describe the package of care provided at the ICU, for whom the ICU cares for, and patients’ outcomes. Finally, the study will also compare the ICU’s mortality rate with international indicators to assess the quality of care offered.

Publication is estimated in the 3rd trimester 2016.