title: Cohort analysis of antenatal care and delivery outcomes in pregnancy: a basis for improving maternal health.
abstract: Cohort analysis has been the cornerstone of tuberculosis (TB) monitoring and evaluation for nearly two decades; these principles have been adapted for patients with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome on antiretroviral treatment and patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. We now make the case for using cohort analyses for monitoring pregnant women during antenatal care, up to and including childbirth. We believe that this approach would strengthen the current monitoring and evaluation systems used in antenatal care by providing more precise information at regular time intervals. Accurate real-time data on how many pregnant women are enrolled in antenatal care, their characteristics, the interventions they are receiving and the outcomes for mother and child should provide a solid basis for action to reduce maternal mortality.
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.affiliation: Department for HIV and AIDS, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi ; International Training & Education Centre for Health, Malawi, and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Smith
authors.affiliation: Baobab Health Trust, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Gadabu
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Informatics for the Underserved, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA Headquarters, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seita
authors.affiliation: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA Headquarters, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khader
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Medical Department, Brussels Operational Centre, MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zachariah
keywords: antenatal care; cohort analysis; pregnant women