The potential of midwives providing primary obstetric care to reduce perinatal deaths in a rural region
Date
2000
Authors
Theron G.B.
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Abstract
Objective: To determine the proportion of perinatal deaths that could be reduced by midwives providing primary obstetric services. Method: The study was conducted in a rural region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The primary obstetric and final causes of perinatal deaths and avoidable factors related to these deaths were determined in a large town and two small towns. Results: In the three towns 52 (48.6%) of the 107 avoidable factors were related to medical care while 20 (38.5%) of these had the potential to be prevented at the level of care rendered by midwives. In the large town 21 (20.6%) of 102 and in the smaller towns 15 (24.6%) of 61 perinatal deaths had potential for intervention by midwives. Conclusion: The 22.1% of perinatal deaths potentially preventable by midwives presupposes complete patient cooperation within an optimally functioning health system. (C) 2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Description
Keywords
adolescent, adult, article, cause of death, congenital malformation, female, human, major clinical study, midwife, perinatal care, perinatal mortality, premature labor, prenatal care, primary health care, priority journal, rural health care, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Maternal Health Services, Maternal Mortality, Midwifery, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Rural Population, South Africa
Citation
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
70
3
70
3