A systematic review of implementation strategies to deliver guidelines on obstetric care practice in low- and middle-income countries.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
; 136(1): 19-28, 2017 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28099701
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Healthcare measures to prevent maternal deaths are well known. However, effective implementation of this knowledge to change practice remains a challenge.OBJECTIVES:
To assess whether strategies to promote the use of guidelines can improve obstetric practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). SEARCH STRATEGY Electronic databases were searched up to February 7, 2014, using relevant terms for implementation strategies (e.g. "audit," "education," "reminder"), and maternal mortality. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized and non-randomized studies of implementation strategies targeting healthcare professionals within the formal health services in LMICs were included. DATA COLLECTION ANDANALYSIS:
Cochrane methodological guidance was followed. Because of heterogeneity in the interventions, a narrative synthesis was completed. MAINRESULTS:
Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Moderate-to-low-quality evidence was found to show improvement in the areas of doctor-patient communication (one study), analgesic provision (one study), the management of emergencies (two studies) and maternal and late neonatal mortality (one study each). Intervention effects were not consistent across studies.CONCLUSIONS:
Implementation strategies targeting health professionals could lead to improvement in obstetric care in LMICs. Future research should explore what feature of an intervention is effective in one context and how this could be translated into another context. PROSPERO CRD42014010310.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Maternal Mortality
/
Evidence-Based Medicine
/
Delivery of Health Care
/
Maternal Health Services
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
Year:
2017
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom