Twenty three thousand women die from pregnancy-related causes each year in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The chance of dying during pregnancy and childbirth in LAC is 1 in 130 during a woman's reproductive lifetime as compared to 1 in 3,500 in the United States. This high level of maternal mortality is partially attributed to the under-utilization of maternal and newborn health services. A USAID-funded collaboration between the Quality Assurance Project/University Research Co., LLC (QAP/URC), John Snow Inc., /Research and Training (JSI/R&T), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in three pilot countries (Honduras, Bolivia and Ecuador) links the efforts of communities, providers, and district and national Ministries of Health in reducing maternal mortality through improving the quality of and access to Essential Obstetric Care (EOC). This presentation will highlight the LAMM approach to implementing quality assurance activities in local health facilities as well as Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) and community mobilization efforts to increase access and demand for quality EOC services.
How can quality assurance reduce maternal mortality while also creating demand for EOC services in communities? URC/QAP introduced quality assurance activities, (e.g., quality (re) design, quality monitoring, and quality improvement) to develop a district-based maternal care system. The approach ensures stakeholder ownership and responsibility for high quality maternal care services. These quality assurance activities and other similar community-based strategies enable families access to EOC services, particularly for complications, and to promote increased demand for quality maternal and newborn care by trained providers.
Learning Objectives: This session intends to prepare participants to do the following: 1. Analyze the issues associated with maternal mortality. 2. Construct a rational pathway to improve the quality of EOC. 3. Articulate how quality assurance interventions can be used to achieve quality of care. 4. Discuss how the implementation of IEC and community mobilization strategies can increase access to and demand for quality EOC services
Keywords: Quality Assurance, Maternal Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.