title: What is quality in maternity care? An international perspective.
abstract: This paper delineates important considerations for having a better understanding of quality in maternity care. High quality requires providing a minimum level of care to all pregnant women and their new born babies and a higher level of care to those who need it; obtaining the best possible medical outcome of mother and baby; providing care which satisfies users and providers; and maintaining sound managerial and financial performance. While all these aspects are important, prioritizing among interventions to improve them will be influenced by cultural values, expectations and available resources.
authors.affiliation: Maternal Health Programme, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. rudiger_pittrof@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pittrof
authors.forename: Oona M R
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Véronique G A
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care