TABLE 3.
Reasons for Calls to the Kampala Emergency Call and Dispatch Center, April 2020–June 2021
| Call Categories | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| Maternal health-related calls(n=2,583, 25.4%) | |
| Pregnancy or postnatal check-up | 547 (5.4) |
| Mother in labor | 471 (4.6) |
| Prolonged/obstructed labor | 424 (4.2) |
| Hypertensive disease in pregnancy | 223 (2.2) |
| Obstetric hemorrhage | 205 (2.0) |
| Preterm labor | 159 (1.6) |
| Fetal distress | 142 (1.4) |
| Previous cesarean delivery scar | 112 (1.1) |
| Spontaneous abortion | 90 (0.9) |
| Premature rupture of membranes | 54 (0.5) |
| Intrauterine fetal death | 30 (0.3) |
| Other pregnancy complications | 126 (1.2) |
| Newborn health-related calls (n=328, 3.3%) | |
| Birth asphyxia | 152 (1.5) |
| Neonatal infections | 77 (0.8) |
| Premature baby | 81 (0.8) |
| Birth defect | 18 (0.2) |
| Child illness | 173 (1.7) |
| Medical/surgical related calls(n=3,356, 33.0%)a | |
| Medical emergencies | 1,259 (12.4) |
| Routine care | 1,224 (12.0) |
| Antiretroviral drug refills | 417 (4.1) |
| Cancer | 270 (2.7) |
| Mental health | 107 (1.1) |
| Road traffic accident/surgical | 79 (0.8) |
| General inquiries | 1,169 (11.5) |
| Transport home | 1,053 (10.3) |
| Abuse | 14 (0.1) |
| COVID-19 related | 1,463 (14.4) |
| Dead body | 34 (0.3) |
| Gender-based violence | 10 (0.1) |
| Total | 10,183 (100.0) |
aThough the pilot was initially meant for maternal and newborn health referrals, due to COVID-19 movement restrictions, the communities were assisted in seeking care and transport to the facility through the emergency call and dispatch center.