Susan A., 21

Susan is the third-born in a family of eight children living in a two-room mud-walled house. She completed secondary school but could not join college because of financial constraints. Her siblings’ schooling is frequently interrupted by unpaid fees. Susan is unemployed and depends mainly on her parents, who are peasant farmers, while occasionally taking casual jobs. She hopes to learn hairdressing, earn an income, and help support her family. After developing persistent morning nausea, Susan’s mother consulted a Community Health Volunteer, who counselled them and accompanied them to a health centre where her pregnancy was confirmed. Susan completed three ANC visits at Ashburn Hospital, walking for more than 50 minutes each time, before later staying with her grandmother. One Saturday, she developed abdominal pain and was taken to Ashburn Community and Nursing Home. Labour failed to progress, and the baby showed signs of distress, prompting referral to Siaya County Referral Hospital for an emergency Caesarean section. Unable to afford the surgery, Susan and her grandmother sought assistance after hospital staff informed them about Helpster Charity.

The overall prognosis for a patient with prolonged labour undergoing emergency caesarean section is guarded to good, depending on the duration of labour, presence of infection or haemorrhage, maternal condition at surgery, and the baby's condition at delivery. Early surgical intervention generally results in favourable maternal and neonatal outcomes. Susan received prompt medical intervention and successfully underwent a caeserean surgery, she is expected to make a full recovery with proper post operation management