Evidence-based maternal and perinatal healthcare practices in public hospitals in Argentina.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of beneficial maternal and perinatal healthcare practices in a network of public maternity hospitals in Argentina.


METHODS
A multicenter, prospective, descriptive study of 6661 deliveries in 9 hospitals. The use of 5 obstetric care practices that reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality was evaluated.


RESULTS
Median use rates for the selected practices were: continuous support for women during childbirth (17.9%); corticosteroids for preterm birth (35.3%); avoidance of episiotomy in primiparous women (41.2%); iron and folate supplementation (52.5%); active management of third stage of labor (93.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
There is limited use of the selected evidence-based maternal and perinatal practices in public hospitals in Argentina and a large variation in their use among and within hospitals. Efforts should be made to increase the use of these evidence-based practices.
Karolinski
Ariel
A
Population Health Research Center (CISAP), Durand Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. karolinski@fibertel.com.ar
Micone
Paula
P
Mercer
Raúl
R
Gibbons
Luz
L
Althabe
Fernando
F
Belizán
José M
JM
Messina
Analía
A
Lapidus
Alicia
A
Correa
Alberto
A
Taddeo
Corina
C
Lambruschini
Rodolfo
R
Bertin
Marta
M
Dibiase
Lucía
L
Montes Varela
Dolores
D
Laterra
Cristina
C
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001118:Argentina; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007749:Labor Stage, Third; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron