title: Evidence-based maternal and perinatal healthcare practices in public hospitals in Argentina.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Population Health Research Center (CISAP), Durand Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. karolinski@fibertel.com.ar
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karolinski
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Micone
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Althabe
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Belizán
authors.forename: Analía
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapidus
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taddeo
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambruschini
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dibiase
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montes Varela
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laterra
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron