Essential obstetric care: assessment and determinants of quality.
Soc Sci Med
; 45(11): 1631-9, 1997 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9428083
ABSTRACT
This paper reports on a study to develop and to apply methods for measuring the quality of essential obstetric care (EOC) in health centers. Based on a Nigerian guideline and an international guideline, and in consultation with local experts in primary care obstetrics, norms were established for equipment, personnel, supplies and the process of EOC, focusing on critical tasks. A combination of assessment methods was used, including observation of tasks performed during intrapartum care; use of data from records of care kept by midwives during the period of observation; use of data from records kept by midwives in the calendar year preceding the period of observation; exit interviews with clients; and inventories of equipment and supplies. Twelve health centers in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 360 clients in labor were included in the study. Quality of care was measured quantitatively as a score, calculated for each task and for each delivery in the health center. The results show that the methods developed are useful for identifying quality score differences among health centers, and the effects of methods of assessment on quality scores; identifying aspects of EOC requiring improvements within each health center; and identifying factors influencing the quality of care, as a basis for effective quality improvement efforts. Regression models show that the most consistent and important predictor of quality scores is the use of printed forms (i.e. routine records of labor) during intrapartum care. Printed forms served as job aids, providing prompts that reminded midwives to perform specific tasks.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde
/
Serviços de Saúde Materna
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Soc Sci Med
Ano de publicação:
1997
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos