Yes / Patient safety culture/climate in maternity units has been linked to better safety outcomes. Nurses have a crucial role in patient safety and represent the majority of staff in maternity units. In many countries, nurses are recruited from abroad, bringing their own perceptions of patient safety culture. Nonetheless, little is known about the relationship between perceptions of patient safety culture and nurses’ nationality. Understanding this relationship will assist stakeholders in designing a responsive programme to improve patient safety culture. Aims: To investigate the association between nurses’ nationality and their perceptions about patient safety culture in maternity units in Ministry of Health hospitals in Oman. Methods: In 2017, the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) was distributed to all staff (892 distributed, 735 returned) in 10 maternity units. Results: About three-quarters (74%, 541/735) of the returned SAQs were completed by nurses, of whom 34% were non-Omani, 21.8% were Omani and 44.7% did not report their nationality (missing). Overall, the mean safety score for non-Omani nurses was significantly higher than for the Omani nurses: 3.9 (SD 1.3) vs 3.6 (SD 1.2) (P < 0.001). The mean safety score for stress recognition was significantly lower for non-Omani nurses: 2.8 (SD 1.5) vs 3.2 (SD 1.3) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Non-Omani nurses have a more positive perception of patient safety culture than Omani nurses except in respect of stress recognition. Decision-makers, directors, and clinicians should consider these differences when designing interventions to improve patient safety culture. / This study is part of a PhD study that was funded by the Ministry of Health in Oman

PhDH / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Background: The National Committee for the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths recommend the implementation of “Saving Mothers’ recommendations” as a measure to reduce maternal deaths. However, this objective has not been achieved because the Maternal Mortality Rate in South Africa was standing at 134.33/100 000 live births and Limpopo Province at 165.16/100 000 live births. The national target for reduction of maternal mortality was 20% for all provinces for 2016. Limpopo Province’s reduction was below 12.5% for 2016. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop a strategy to enhance the implementation of the Saving Mothers’ recommendations in the maternity units of Limpopo Province. Methods: The convergent parallel design was used in this study. The study was conducted in phases, namely: Phase 1(a) was a qualitative research approach and a non-experimental, descriptive and exploratory design. The population consisted of district managers who were managing the Maternal Health Services and registered midwives who were working in the maternity units of Limpopo Province. Non-probability purposive sampling was used for both the district managers and the registered midwives. Data were collected using a central question for the managers managing Maternal Health services which was “What support are you giving to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations by the Saving Mothers Report?” and the question for the registered midwives was “What challenges are you experiencing when implementing the Saving Mothers’ recommendations.” Tesch’s open-coding technique was used to analyse qualitative data. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, confirmability, dependability, transferability and authenticity. Phase 1(b) was a quantitative and a non-experimental descriptive design. The population comprised of 200 patients who were included in the study. Questionnaires were developed and used to collect ABSTRACT vi data. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 24.0) with the assistance of the statistician. Discussion of data were done in an explanatory sequential way where data from Phase 1a was discussed and supported by data from Phase 1b. Findings: The themes that emerged were: Challenges related to implementation of the recommendations of the Saving Mothers Report in maternity units, Description of existing training programmes and in-service education for health care professionals, Knowledge on implementing recommendations for the Saving Mothers Report when providing care in maternity units and Suggestions related to improvement of adherence to recommendations for the Saving Mothers Report in maternity units. Some of the themes were supported by the quantitative results whilst some not supported. Validity and reliability were ensured by giving the questionnaires to experts on the subject, colleagues and promoters to analyse and determine if items adequately represent content in the correct proportion. Ethical considerations were ensured by obtaining ethical approval from the University of Venda Ethics Committee and permission to access the facilities from the Limpopo Province Department of Health. The participants signed informed written consent. Phase 2 entailed strategy development and validation of the developed strategy. Recommendations: The recommendations included that the Department of Health should employ more staff and put operational managers in permanent positions. Sufficient equipment and supplies essential for maternal health care and maternal health infrastructure should be procured and a good plan for the managing thereof implemented. It is also recommended that health care workers should work hand in hand with the community structures and the ‘mosate’. / NRF