title: Implementation of the Zambia electronic perinatal record system for comprehensive prenatal and delivery care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize prenatal and delivery care in an urban African setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Zambia Electronic Perinatal Record System (ZEPRS) was implemented to record demographic characteristics, past medical and obstetric history, prenatal care, and delivery and newborn care for pregnant women across 25 facilities in the Lusaka public health sector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From June 1, 2007, to January 31, 2010, 115552 pregnant women had prenatal and delivery information recorded in ZEPRS. Median gestation age at first prenatal visit was 23weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 19-26). Syphilis screening was documented in 95663 (83%) pregnancies: 2449 (2.6%) women tested positive, of whom 1589 (64.9%) were treated appropriately. 111108 (96%) women agreed to HIV testing, of whom 22% were diagnosed with HIV. Overall, 112813 (98%) of recorded pregnancies resulted in a live birth, and 2739 (2%) in a stillbirth. The median gestational age was 38weeks (IQR 35-40) at delivery; the median birth weight of newborns was 3000g (IQR 2700-3300g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate the feasibility of using a comprehensive electronic medical record in an urban African setting, and highlight its important role in ongoing efforts to improve clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. bchi@cidrz.org
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Bellington
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vwalika
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Killam
authors.forename: Chibesa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wamalume
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Giganti
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mbewe
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Namwinga T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Chintu
authors.forename: Nande B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Putta
authors.forename: Katherine C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chibwesha
authors.forename: Dwight J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.forename: Jeffrey S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Stringer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia