Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Pregnancy and Childbirth in South East Asia
Author Information
Author(s): CA. Crowther, M. Laopaiboon, P. Lumbiganon, SJ. McDonald, DJ. Henderson-Smart, S. Green
Primary Institution: Assiut University Hospital, Egypt
Hypothesis
Does a multifaceted intervention improve the adoption of best clinical practice recommendations in perinatal health care?
Conclusion
The study found that while some perinatal health care practices were consistent with best evidence, many were not, indicating a need for improved compliance with evidence-based recommendations.
Supporting Evidence
- Evidence-based practices for managing the third stage of labour were universally practiced.
- Less than 5% of hospitals provided appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis for caesarean sections.
- Rates of episiotomy for vaginal births varied widely, from 31% to 95%.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well hospitals in South East Asia follow the best practices for pregnancy and childbirth, finding that some things are done well, but many important practices are not.
Methodology
An audit of 9550 medical records from nine hospitals in Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, and Thailand was conducted to compare actual practices with best practice recommendations.
Potential Biases
The study did not directly observe clinical practices, which may introduce bias in the reported data.
Limitations
Some interventions may not have been well documented in medical records, potentially underestimating the actual practices.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of mothers ranged from 26 to 31 years, with varying rates of nulliparity across hospitals.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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