Evaluating the quality of care for postpartum hemorrhage with a new quantitative tool: a population-based study

Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 3;12(1):18626. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-23201-0.

Abstract

To develop a new tool to assess the global quality of care for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH)-the leading preventable cause of maternal mortality worldwide-and to identify characteristics of maternity units associated with inadequate PPH management. This is a secondary analysis of the EPIMOMS population-based study conducted in 2012-2013 in 119 french maternity units (182,309 women who gave birth). We included women with severe PPH. We first developed a score to quantify the quality of care for PPH. Then, we identified characteristics of the maternity units associated with "inadequate care" defined by a score below the 25th percentile, with multi-level logistic regression adjusted for individual characteristics. The score combined 8 key components of care and took into account delivery mode and PPH cause. For PPH after vaginal delivery, the risk of inadequate care was increased in low versus high-volume maternity units (< 1000 deliveries/year: aOR-2.20 [1.12-4.32], [1000-2000 [deliveries/year: aOR-1.90 [1.02-3.56] compared to ≥ 3500 deliveries/year), in private versus public units (aOR-1.72 [1.00-2.97]), and in low versus high-level of care units (aOR-2.04 [1.24-3.35]). For PPH after cesarean, the only characteristic associated with an increased risk of inadequate care was the absence of 24/24-onsite anesthesiologist (aOR-4.34 [1.41-13.31]). These results indicate where opportunities for improvement are the greatest.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Delivery, Obstetric / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Maternal Mortality
  • Parturition
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage* / epidemiology
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage* / etiology
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage* / therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors