Premium
The United Nations Process Indicators for emergency obstetric care: Reflections based on a decade of experience
Author(s) -
Paxton A.,
Bailey P.,
Lobis S.
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2006.08.009
Subject(s) - medicine , process (computing) , data collection , variety (cybernetics) , strengths and weaknesses , service (business) , process management , data science , risk analysis (engineering) , computer science , marketing , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence , business , operating system , philosophy , epistemology
Objective : The paper reviews the experience with the EmOC process indicators, and evaluates whether the indicators serve the purposes for which they were originally created – to gather and interpret relatively accessible data to design and implement EmOC service programs. Method : We review experience with each of the 6 process indicators individually, and monitoring change over time, at the level of the facility and at the level of a region or country. We identify problems encountered in the field with data collection and interpretation. Result : While they have strengths and weaknesses, the process indicators in general serve the purposes for which they were developed. The data are easily collected, but some data problems were identified. We recommend several relatively minor modifications to improve data collection, interpretation and utility. Conclusions : The EmOC process indicators have been used successfully in a wide variety of settings. They describe vital elements of the health system and how well that system is functioning for women at risk of dying from major obstetric complications.