Methodological considerations in implementing the WHO Global Survey for Monitoring Maternal and Perinatal Health.
OBJECTIVE
To set up a global system for monitoring maternal and perinatal health in 54 countries worldwide.


METHODS
The WHO Global Survey for Monitoring Maternal and Perinatal Health was implemented through a network of health institutions, selected using a stratified multistage cluster sampling design. Focused information on maternal and perinatal health was abstracted from hospital records and entered in a specially developed online data management system. Data were collected over a two- to three-month period in each institution. The project was coordinated by WHO and supported by WHO regional offices and country coordinators in Africa and the Americas.


RESULTS
The initial survey was implemented between September 2004 and March 2005 in the African and American regions. A total of 125 institutions in seven African countries and 119 institutions in eight Latin American countries participated.


CONCLUSIONS
This project has created a technologically simple and scientifically sound system for large-scale data management, which can facilitate programme monitoring in countries.
Shah
Archana
A
Department of Making Pregnancy Safer, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. shaha@who.int
Faundes
Anibal
A
Machoki
M'Imunya
M
Bataglia
Vicente
V
Amokrane
Faouzi
F
Donner
Allan
A
Mugerwa
Kidza
K
Carroli
Guillermo
G
Fawole
Bukola
B
Langer
Ana
A
Wolomby
Jean José
JJ
Naravaez
Alberto
A
Nafiou
Idi
I
Kublickas
Marius
M
Valladares
Eliette
E
Velasco
Alejandro
A
Zavaleta
Nelly
N
Neves
Isilda
I
Villar
José
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009656:North America; D018743:Perinatal Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D012106:Research; D013020:South America; D014944:World Health Organization