{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7223473079","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","title":"Health workers\u2019 and administrators\u2019 experiences of duty handover on maternity wards in public health facilities in Hoima District, Uganda: a qualitative phenomenological study","display_name":"Health workers\u2019 and administrators\u2019 experiences of duty handover on maternity wards in public health facilities in Hoima District, Uganda: a qualitative phenomenological study","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-10-24","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7223473079","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","pdf_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/24/2026.10.21.26366168.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S3005729997","display_name":"medRxiv","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core"],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315909"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press"],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"medRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"},"volume":null,"type":"preprint","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/24/2026.10.21.26366168.full.pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5159412411","display_name":"Nicholas Tumwesige","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4782-8222","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4782-8222"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I72227227","display_name":"Makerere University","ror":"https://ror.org/03dmz0111","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Nicholas Tumwesige","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4782-8222","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5148433918","display_name":"Kawungu Saad Sessimba","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4045-7633","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4045-7633"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I72227227","display_name":"Makerere University","ror":"https://ror.org/03dmz0111","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Kawungu Saad Sessimba","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4045-7633","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5017386715","display_name":"Joshua Kitimbo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7805-9542","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7805-9542"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I72227227","display_name":"Makerere University","ror":"https://ror.org/03dmz0111","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Joshua Kitimbo","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, College of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, College of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5159443882","display_name":"Mike N. Kagawa","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I72227227","display_name":"Makerere University","ror":"https://ror.org/03dmz0111","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Mike N. Kagawa","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5052167859","display_name":"Herbert Kayiga","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4707-1282","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4707-1282"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I72227227","display_name":"Makerere University","ror":"https://ror.org/03dmz0111","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Herbert Kayiga","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":1,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5159412411"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I72227227"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12174","display_name":"Hospital Admissions and Outcomes","score":1.0,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2911","display_name":"Leadership and Management"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/29","display_name":"Nursing"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12174","display_name":"Hospital Admissions and Outcomes","score":1.0,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2911","display_name":"Leadership and Management"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/29","display_name":"Nursing"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10508","display_name":"Patient Safety and Medication Errors","score":9.999999747378752e-05,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2739","display_name":"Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10186","display_name":"Nursing education and management","score":0.0,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2922","display_name":"Research and Theory"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/29","display_name":"Nursing"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/maternity-ward","display_name":"maternity ward","score":0.8320000171661377},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/handoff-communication","display_name":"handoff communication","score":0.9179999828338623},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/health-worker-experiences","display_name":"health worker experiences","score":0.6480000019073486},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/workload","display_name":"workload","score":0.3930000066757202},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/staff-training-and-supervision","display_name":"staff training and supervision","score":0.7910000085830688},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/patient-data-access","display_name":"patient data access","score":0.6650000214576721},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/patient-and-family-involvement","display_name":"patient and family involvement","score":0.75},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/resource-limited-settings","display_name":"resource-limited settings","score":0.7490000128746033}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779103253","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q878070","display_name":"Duty","level":2,"score":0.7226999998092651},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190248442","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486","display_name":"Qualitative research","level":2,"score":0.6973000168800354},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159110408","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q121176","display_name":"Nursing","level":1,"score":0.6172000169754028},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C13200473","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2747831","display_name":"Reflexivity","level":2,"score":0.573199987411499},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111852164","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1414679","display_name":"Handover","level":2,"score":0.5311999917030334},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C71924100","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11190","display_name":"Medicine","level":0,"score":0.5072000026702881},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138816342","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189603","display_name":"Public health","level":2,"score":0.48019999265670776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2775860198","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7257872","display_name":"Public hospital","level":2,"score":0.4560999870300293},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C160735492","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q31207","display_name":"Health care","level":2,"score":0.4339999854564667},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779328685","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1475557","display_name":"Patient safety","level":3,"score":0.35359999537467957},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C87156501","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268708","display_name":"Qualitative property","level":2,"score":0.3294999897480011},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15744967","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418","display_name":"Psychology","level":0,"score":0.3287000060081482},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2992232542","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20862341","display_name":"Maternity care","level":3,"score":0.3248000144958496},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C512399662","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3505712","display_name":"Family medicine","level":1,"score":0.3125},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778476105","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q628539","display_name":"Workload","level":2,"score":0.30160000920295715},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779473830","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1540899","display_name":"MEDLINE","level":2,"score":0.27160000801086426},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C102944935","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4953701","display_name":"Bracketing (phenomenology)","level":2,"score":0.2694000005722046},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C545542383","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2751242","display_name":"Medical emergency","level":1,"score":0.2621999979019165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2987480172","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7834462","display_name":"Continuity of care","level":3,"score":0.26080000400543213}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","pdf_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/24/2026.10.21.26366168.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S3005729997","display_name":"medRxiv","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core"],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315909"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press"],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"medRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366168","pdf_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/24/2026.10.21.26366168.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S3005729997","display_name":"medRxiv","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core"],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315909"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press"],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"medRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/3","score":0.9537000060081482,"display_name":"Good health and well-being"}],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7223473079.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7223473079.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":20,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1267760291","https://openalex.org/W2136608905","https://openalex.org/W2138664283","https://openalex.org/W2344385274","https://openalex.org/W2786882431","https://openalex.org/W2986422039","https://openalex.org/W2996690464","https://openalex.org/W3007674669","https://openalex.org/W3031227652","https://openalex.org/W3083911552","https://openalex.org/W3108377378","https://openalex.org/W3111855657","https://openalex.org/W4205199273","https://openalex.org/W4306989123","https://openalex.org/W4393199339","https://openalex.org/W4402290286","https://openalex.org/W4406837962","https://openalex.org/W4409903992","https://openalex.org/W4413919513","https://openalex.org/W4415584430"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4306989123","https://openalex.org/W1631337833","https://openalex.org/W7204826414","https://openalex.org/W4280550243","https://openalex.org/W2961931678","https://openalex.org/W7081910623","https://openalex.org/W7165662378","https://openalex.org/W2954928647","https://openalex.org/W6977338294","https://openalex.org/W7115818055"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Abstract":[0],"Background":[1],"Duty":[2,246],"handover":[3,17,48,71,160,247,269],"is":[4,38],"a":[5,86,121,132,139,150],"high-risk":[6],"point":[7],"in":[8,16,33,53,75,79,176,199,234,243,287],"the":[9,60,249],"continuity":[10,284],"of":[11,64,149,152,285],"maternity":[12,31,51,73,94,163,250,290],"care,":[13],"and":[14,25,40,62,67,98,118,127,136,146,165,179,183,207,213,218,226,232,237,255,260,266,275,277],"breakdowns":[15,229],"communication":[18,189,228],"have":[19],"been":[20],"linked":[21,227],"to":[22,41,181,230,282],"delayed":[23],"care":[24,286],"avoidable":[26],"harm.":[27],"Qualitative":[28],"evidence":[29],"from":[30],"wards":[32,52,74,251],"low-resource":[34,289],"Sub-Saharan":[35],"African":[36],"settings":[37],"limited,":[39],"our":[42],"knowledge":[43],"no":[44],"study":[45,58],"has":[46],"examined":[47],"experiences":[49,61],"on":[50,72,162,186,248],"Hoima":[54,80],"District,":[55,81],"Uganda.":[56,82],"This":[57],"explored":[59],"challenges":[63,166],"health":[65,77,96,111,169],"workers":[66,97,170],"administrators":[68,104],"regarding":[69],"duty":[70,159],"public":[76,110],"facilities":[78,201],"Methods":[83],"We":[84],"conducted":[85],"qualitative":[87],"phenomenological":[88],"study.":[89],"Fifteen":[90],"in-depth":[91],"interviews":[92,102],"with":[93,103],"ward":[95],"five":[99],"key":[100,224],"informant":[101],"were":[105,114,129,157,197,239],"carried":[106],"out":[107],"across":[108],"six":[109],"facilities.":[112],"Interviews":[113],"audio-recorded,":[115],"transcribed":[116],"verbatim":[117],"analysed":[119],"using":[120],"modified":[122],"Colaizzi":[123],"seven-step":[124],"method.":[125],"Reflexivity":[126],"bracketing":[128,137],"addressed":[130],"through":[131],"pre-fieldwork":[133],"assumptions":[134],"statement":[135],"interview,":[138],"reflexive":[140],"journal":[141],"kept":[142],"throughout":[143],"data":[144],"collection,":[145],"independent":[147],"double-coding":[148],"subset":[151],"transcripts.":[153],"Results":[154],"Two":[155],"themes":[156],"identified:":[158],"practices":[161],"wards,":[164],"experienced":[167],"by":[168,257],"during":[171],"handover.":[172,244],"Handover":[173],"was":[174,253],"inconsistent":[175,254],"structure,":[177],"duration":[178],"adherence":[180],"protocol,":[182],"relied":[184],"heavily":[185],"informal":[187],"telephone":[188],"rather":[190],"than":[191],"structured":[192],"face-to-face":[193],"reporting.":[194],"Standardised":[195,265],"tools":[196],"used":[198],"some":[200],"only.":[202],"Participants":[203],"identified":[204],"time":[205],"constraints":[206],"workload,":[208],"inadequate":[209],"training,":[210,272],"limited":[211],"resources":[212],"supervision,":[214],"negative":[215],"staff":[216],"attitudes,":[217],"difficulty":[219],"accessing":[220],"patient":[221],"information":[222],"as":[223],"challenges,":[225],"delays":[231],"errors":[233],"care.":[235],"Patients":[236],"families":[238],"largely":[240],"not":[241],"involved":[242],"Conclusions":[245],"studied":[252],"constrained":[256],"capability-,":[258],"opportunity-":[259],"motivation-related":[261],"barriers":[262],"operating":[263],"together.":[264],"locally":[267],"adapted":[268],"tools,":[270],"targeted":[271],"stronger":[273],"supervision":[274],"facility-":[276],"national-level":[278],"guidance":[279],"appear":[280],"necessary":[281],"protect":[283],"comparable":[288],"settings.":[291]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-08T12:12:28.789561","created_date":"2026-10-25T00:00:00"}