title: Quality of normal delivery care in Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of normal delivery care in Côte d'Ivoire. A total of 229 women were included in a cross-sectional study conducted in four urban maternity wards between 2002 and 2003. Observation checklists and exit-interviews were used to examine various dimensions of care. The results showed that the overall quality of care was poor, despite most women giving birth with a professional midwife. A vaginal examination was performed systematically at admission but blood pressure was measured in less than half of the women. The partograph was completed during labour in only 5% of cases. Episiotomy and uterine revision rates were high at 24% and 32%, respectively. There was a lack of universal hygiene precautions and women received little support during labour. Our results question the quality of labour, delivery and postpartum care by skilled attendants in Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.affiliation: STD/HIV Research and Intervention Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. tdelvaux@itg.be
authors.forename: Thérèse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delvaux
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aké-Tano
authors.forename: V alérie
authors.initials: Va
authors.lastname: Gohou-Kouassi
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bosso
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ronsmans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards