Results of a Dutch national and subsequent international expert meeting on interconception care.

INTRODUCTION: The potential value of preconception care and interconception care is increasingly acknowledged, but delivery is generally uncommon. Reaching women for interconception care is potentially easier than for preconception care, however the concept is still unfamiliar. Expert consensus could facilitate guidelines, policies and subsequent implementation. A national and subsequent international expert meeting were organized to discuss the term, definition, content, relevant target groups, and ways to reach target groups for interconception care. METHODS: We performed a literature study to develop propositions for discussion in a national expert meeting in the Netherlands in October 2015. The outcomes of this meeting were discussed during an international congress on preconception care in Sweden in February 2016. Both meetings were recorded, transcribed and subsequently reviewed by participants. RESULTS: The experts argued that the term, definition, and content for interconception care should be in line with preconception care. They discussed that the target group for interconception care should be "all women who have been pregnant and could be pregnant in the future and their (possible) partners". In addition, they opted that any healthcare provider having contact with the target group should reach out and make every encounter a potential opportunity to promote interconception care. DISCUSSION: Expert discussions led to a description of the term, definition, content, and relevant target groups for interconception care. Opportunities to reach the target group were identified, but should be further developed and evaluated in policies and guidelines to determine the optimal way to deliver interconception care

Some reproductive health indicators in Ukraine : A study with special emphasis on factors behind induced aboartion and perinatal mortality

Objectives: To study indicators specifically reflecting the reproductive health of Ukrainian women and to analyse factors behind the indicators. Methods: Induced abortion and maternal mortality were studied in some countries/regions of the former Soviet Union, using official statistics. Abortion rates, contraceptive practices and intentions in Ukrainian women were analysed by a large self-completion survey in 1996, and by a classroom questionnaire to first year medical students in 1999 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Totally, 1694 women and 689 students participated. Perinatal mortality was studied, applying the Nordic-Baltic perinatal death classification to all cases in the Donetsk region in 1997-98 (n=1126) and in Denmark in 1996 (n=540). Clinical guidelines, use of technology and rates of interventions in the two regions were analysed. Results: Abortion remains a major method of fertility control and abortion-related mortality contributes to maternal deaths. Perinatal mortality rate is twice as high in the Donetsk region as in Denmark. A substantial proportion of sexually active women do not practice contraception. Modern methods of contraception are not widely used. There is a lack of knowledge in reproductive health issues and negative attitude to OCs. There is a positive attitude towards abortion as an acceptable fertility control method and of having abortion instead of using OCs or IUD. Poor economy is an obstacle to the use of contraceptive methods associated with a cost. Lack of experience with contraception reduces the intention to use any method in the future. Being single, younger than 19 years, living with parents, having a positive attitude towards abortion as fertility control method, having a history of previous childbirth and/or abortion are important factors associated with pregnancy termination. Antepartum deaths of growth-retarded fetuses, intrapartum and neonatal deaths associated with asphyxia are more common in Ukraine than in Denmark, particularly among premature infants. Lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines and adequate resources for fetal monitoring during pregnancy and labour, together with negative attitudes towards, and limited resources for, instrumental delivery, contribute to high perinatal mortality. Conclusion: Better reproductive education/information of all strata of society is needed. Implementation of evidence-based guidelines in perinatal medicine, where international collaboration can be of great value, should be a matter of high priority

Effectiveness of emergency obstetric care training at the regional level in Ukraine : a non-randomized controlled trial

Background Emergency obstetric care training, using Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM) International Program (AIP) was implemented in Ukraine, a country with universal access to skilled perinatal and obstetric care but restricted resources. A total of 577 providers (65.5% of total) from 28 maternal clinics attended a 5-day training session focused on the five main causes of maternal mortality, with hands-on skill workshops, pre- and post- tests, and an objective structured clinical examination. The effects of this emergency obstetric care training on maternal outcomes is the subject of this paper. Methods A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted. The pilot areas where the training was implemented consisted of 64 maternity clinics of which 28 were considered as cases and 36 non-participating clinics were the referents. Data on maternal outcomes were collected for a 2-year span (2004-2005) prior to the trainings, which took place 2006-2007 and again after implementation of the trainings, from 2008 to 2009. Information was collected from 189,852 deliveries. Outcomes for the study were incidences of operative delivery and postpartum hemorrhage. Non-parametric statistics, meta-analyses, and difference in difference (DID) estimation were used to assess the effect of the AIP on maternal indices. Results DID analysis showed that after the training, compared to the referents, the cases had significant reduction of blood transfusions (OR: 0.56; 95%CI: 0.48-0.65), plasma transfusions (OR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.63-0.78), and uterus explorations (OR: 0.64; 95%CI: 0.59-0.69). We observed a non-significant reduction of postpartum hemorrhage >= 1000 ml (OR: 0.92; 95%CI: 0.81-1.04; P = 0.103). Utilization of vacuum extraction for vaginal delivery increased (OR: 2.86; 95%CI: 1.80-4.57), as well as forceps assisted delivery (OR: 1.80; 95%CI: 1.00-3.25) and cesarean section (OR: 1.11; 95%CI: 1.06-1.17). There was no change in the occurrence of postpartum hysterectomy and maternal mortality. Conclusions After one week of Emergency Obstetrics Care training of the obstetric staff in a setting with universal access to perinatal and obstetric care but restricted resources, an association with the reduction of postpartum hemorrhage related interventions was observed. The effects on the use of vacuum extraction and cesarean section were minimal