title: Methodological considerations in implementing the WHO Global Survey for Monitoring Maternal and Perinatal Health.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Making Pregnancy Safer, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. shaha@who.int
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Anibal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faundes
authors.forename: M'Imunya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machoki
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bataglia
authors.forename: Faouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amokrane
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donner
authors.forename: Kidza
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mugerwa
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carroli
authors.forename: Bukola
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fawole
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Jean José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wolomby
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naravaez
authors.forename: Idi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nafiou
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kublickas
authors.forename: Eliette
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zavaleta
authors.forename: Isilda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villar
mesh_terms: 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