Comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes of group versus individual prenatal care: a new experience in Iran.
The majority of perinatal deaths occur in developing countries. Pragmatic reality in developing countries dictates the need for implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective interventions to improve child health outcomes. In this article we describe the implementation and evaluation of group prenatal care in Iran. Group prenatal care ideally may be suited for mothers in developing countries where lack of support, cultural and traditional practices, and low-quality health services interfere with satisfactory implementation of prenatal care. We believe that provision of prenatal care by group model improves perinatal outcomes. In developing countries such an approach is feasible and practical.
Department of Health Services, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. jafary@razi.tums.ac.ir
Fatemeh
F
Jafari
Hasan
H
Eftekhar
Akbar
A
Fotouhi
Kazem
K
Mohammad
Sedigheh
S
Hantoushzadeh
D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000191:economics; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D007492:Iran; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000191:economics; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care