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Improving the quality of maternity services in Nepal through accelerated implementation of essential interventions by healthcare professional associations
Author(s) -
Spira Cintia,
Dhital Rolina,
Jacob Sue,
Dangal Ganesh,
Gurung Geeta,
Prasad Shrestha Laxman,
Prasad Bista Krishna,
Bajracharya Kiran,
Bajrachayra Lata,
Baral Gehanath,
Maiya Kaway Nani,
Rushawn Hamid,
Cooper Peter,
DayStirk Frances,
Berrueta Mabel,
Gibbons Luz,
GarcíaElorrio Ezequiel,
Belizán José M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12678
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , promotion (chess) , breastfeeding , intervention (counseling) , baseline (sea) , quality management , nursing , family medicine , pediatrics , politics , political science , law , management system , oceanography , management , economics , geology
Objective To assess whether the implementation of a package of activities through the joint action of three international healthcare professional associations ( HCPA s) increased the use of essential interventions ( EI s) for delivery and neonatal care. Methods A noncontrolled pre‐intervention versus post‐intervention study was conducted from June 13 to December 13, 2016, among women older than 18 years of age, who had delivered at one of two urban tertiary hospitals in Nepal. Results The study included 9252 women. Minimal change was found after the implementation of EI s that were used frequently at baseline (e.g. social support during delivery in the emergency room, and promotion and support for early initiation of breastfeeding). By contrast, an increase was recorded for some EI s that had not been used regularly at baseline. For example, the rate of timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics before cesarean delivery increased from 0.0% (0/496) to 94.0% (409/435) at one hospital. Nonetheless, some EI s with low use at baseline did not show improvement after implementation (e.g. kangaroo mother care). Conclusion The present study strengthened previous findings regarding the uptake of EI s following joint promotion by HCPA s in low‐income settings.