title: Obstetric care and health system responsiveness for hospital-based delivery in Lao People's Democratic Republic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess obstetric care and health system responsiveness for hospital-based delivery care in Lao PDR, and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in two provincial hospitals in Lao PDR between June and October 2010. All delivered women were interviewed for their perception of health system responsiveness and their medical records were reviewed for the obstetric care they received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred eighty one women participated in this study. The mean scores of obstetric care and health system responsiveness were 19.5 +/- 2.5 and 31.6 +/- 1.5, respectively. The mean score of overall performance was 51.0 +/- 2.8. Of the two hospitals, designated as Hospital A and Hospital B, the health responsiveness was rated lower in women undergoing cesarean section and delivering in Hospital B. Male doctor or obstetrician or delivery in Hospital B was significantly associated with higher obstetric care and overall performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different health system responsiveness for the delivery care between the two hospitals was found. Strategies to improve obstetric care need to be discussed and studied.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Daovieng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Douangvichit
authors.forename: Tippawan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liabsuetrakul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D055815:Young Adult