Neonatal care in Brazil: hospital structure and adequacy according to newborn obstetric risk

Private sector quality of care for maternal, new-born, and child health in low-and-middle-income countries: a secondary review

The private sector has emerged as a crucial source of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) care in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Quality within the MNCH private sector varies and has not been established systematically. This study systematically reviews findings on private-sector delivery of quality MNCH care in LMICs through the six domains of quality care (QoC) (i.e., efficiency, equity, effectiveness, people-centered care, safety, and timeliness). We registered the systematic review with PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (registration number CRD42019143383) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement for clear and transparent reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Searches were conducted in eight electronic databases and two websites. For inclusion, studies in LMICs must have examined at least one of the following outcomes using qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-methods: maternal morbidity, maternal mortality, newborn morbidity, newborn mortality, child morbidity, child mortality, service utilization, quality of care, and/or experience of care including respectful care. Outcome data was extracted for descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Of the 139 included studies, 110 studies reported data on QoC. Most studies reporting on QoC occurred in India (19.3%), Uganda (12.3%), and Bangladesh (8.8%). Effectiveness was the most widely measured quality domain with 55 data points, followed by people-centered care (n = 52), safety (n = 47), timeliness (n = 31), equity (n = 24), and efficiency (n = 4). The review showed inconsistencies in care quality across private and public facilities, with quality varying across the six domains. Factors such as training, guidelines, and technical competence influenced the quality. There were also variations in how domains like "people-centered care" have been understood and measured over time. The review underscores the need for clearer definitions of "quality" and practical QoC measures, central to the success of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and equitable health outcomes. This research addresses how quality MNCH care has been defined and operationalized to understand how quality is delivered across the private health sector and the larger health system. Numerous variables and metrics under each QoC domain highlight the difficulty in systematizing QoC. These findings have practical significance to both researchers and policymakers.

Systematic Review Registration

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/2/e033141.long, Identifier [CRD42019143383].

Evaluation of the birthplace of newborns with gestational age less than 34 weeks according to the complexity of the Neonatal Unit in maternity hospitals linked to the "Rede Cegonha": Brazil, 2016-2017

This study aims to evaluate the birthplace of preterm infants with less than 34 gestational weeks at birth by type of neonatal care service in maternity hospitals of the "Rede Cegonha" and estimate the maternal factors associated with the inadequate place of birth for gestational age. This national cross-sectional study was performed in 2016/2017 to evaluate health establishments with the Rede Cegonha's action plan. Information was analyzed from 303 puerperae and the respective health establishments of their births. Newborns were classified by gestational age at birth (<30 and 30-33 weeks) and health establishments as hospitals with neonatal intensive care service, hospitals with intermediate neonatal care service, and hospitals without neonatal care service. Ministerial Ordinance N° 930/2012 was used to classify the birthplace as appropriate for the newborn's gestational age. Preterm birth prevalence was 37.3 at less than 30 weeks' gestation and 66.8 at 30-33 weeks. Birth in inappropriate services for the newborn's gestational age occurred in 6.3%, with significant regional and social differences. Inequalities in access to neonatal care for preterm infants persist in the "Rede Cegonha" despite advances.

Neonatal bed status in Brazilian maternity hospitals: an exploratory analysis

Neonatal units should be organized as a progressive care line, with intermediate and intensive care beds (conventional and kangaroo). The aim of this study was to evaluate the status and adequacy of neonatal beds in maternity hospitals linked to the 'Stork Network' ("Rede Cegonha"). A descriptive study was conducted in 606 maternity hospitals in all regions of Brazil. The databases used belonged to the Stork Network Evaluation Survey and the National Live Birth System. To assess the distribution of neonatal beds by typology, the parameters proposed in Ordinance N. 930/2012 of the Ministry of Health were used. Most neonatal units are not organized as a progressive care line with the three types of bed planned. Kangaroo intermediate care beds comprise the minority of implanted beds. There is a concentration of intensive and intermediate beds in the Southeast and South regions, which show a kangaroo intermediate care bed deficit. Analyzing the adequacy of beds by the number of live births, one can observe an inadequacy of Kangaroo care beds in all regions of Brazil, as well as intensive bed deficit in the North and Northeast regions, and adequacy of conventional intermediate care beds in all regions.

Perinatal outcomes from preterm and early term births in a multicenter cohort of low risk nulliparous women

Preterm birth is the major contributor for neonatal and under-five years mortality rates and also accounts for a short- and long-term adverse consequences up to adulthood. Perinatal outcomes may vary according to lots of factors as preterm subtype, late prematurity, which account for the vast majority of cases, country and population characteristics. An under-recognition of the perinatal outcomes and its associated factors might have underpowered strategies to provide adequate care and prevent its occurrence. We aim to estimate the frequency of maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with different categories of preterm and term births, factors associated with poorer perinatal outcomes and related management interventions. A multicentre prospective cohort in five maternities in Brazil between 2015 and 2018. Nulliparous low-risk women with singletons were included. Comprehensive data were collected during three antenatal visits (at 19-21weeks, 27-29 weeks and 37-39 weeks). Maternal and perinatal outcomes were also collected according to maternal and neonatal medical records. Women who had spontaneous (sPTB) and provider-initiated (pi-PTB) preterm birth were compared to those who had term birth. Also, late preterm birth (after 34 weeks), and early term (37-38 weeks) were compared to full term birth (39-40 weeks). Bivariate analysis estimated risk ratios for maternal and adverse outcomes. Finally, a multivariate analysis was conducted to address factors independently associated with any adverse perinatal outcome (APO). In total, 1,165 women had outcome data available, from which 6.7% had sPTB, 4.0% had pi-PTB and 89.3% had a term birth. sPTB and pi-PTb were associated with poorer perinatal outcomes, as well as late sPTB, late pi-PTB and early term neonates. pi-PTB (RRadj 8.12, 95% CI [2.54-25.93], p-value 0.007), maternal weight gain between 20 and 27 weeks Collapse

Key Words

• medical research
• epidemiology

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MESH Headings

• Adult
• Brazil/epidemiology
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Low Birth Weight/growth & development
• Infant, Newborn
• Longitudinal Studies
• Parity
• Pregnancy
• Premature Birth/epidemiology
• Prognosis
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Term Birth/physiology
• Young Adult

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Affiliation(s)

Renato T Souza Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Maria L Costa Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Jussara Mayrink Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Francisco E Feitosa MEAC - School Maternity of the Federal University of Ceará, in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Edilberto A Rocha Filho Department of Maternal and Child Health, Maternity of Clinic Hospital, Federal University of Pernambuco, in Recife, PE, Brazil
Débora F Leite Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, SP, Brazil Department of Maternal and Child Health, Maternity of Clinic Hospital, Federal University of Pernambuco, in Recife, PE, Brazil
Janete Vettorazzi Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternity of the Clinic Hospital, Federal University of RS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Iracema M Calderon Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Botucatu Medical School, Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
Maria H Sousa Statistics Unit, Jundiai School of Medicine, Jundiaí, SP, Brazil
Renato Passini Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Philip N Baker College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Louise Kenny Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Jose G Cecatti Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

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[Profile of service providers in high-risk neonatal care in the databases of the Brazilian Unified National Health System]

The study aimed to analyze the profile of service providers in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) in relation to high-risk neonatal care procedures, based on data from the public-access database on Authorizations for Hospital Admissions (AIH) without identification of the neonatal patient. This cross-sectional study used data on AIH of unidentified newborns up to one day old, issued from January 2013 to December 2015, and from the National Registry of Healthcare Establishments. The TwoStep Cluster method was used to classify the establishments with similar characteristics. Regional differences were observed in the frequency of use of neonatal intensive care units and in special procedures recorded in the databases. The TwoStep Cluster method identified three groupings of providers: the first with 1,151 establishments and with low-complexity hospitalizations, the second with 84 establishments and surgical-profile hospitalizations, and the third with 393 establishments and higher complexity hospitalizations in neonatal care, including surgeries. The records on admissions jointly with multivariate analytical techniques have the potential to support decision-making by SUS administrators in the organization of neonatal care.

Using the Maternity Safety Thermometer to estimate harm-free care in Southeast Brazil: A hospital-based cohort

BACKGROUND

High rates of unnecessary cesareans and interventions in vaginal births contribute to stagnant maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Brazil. We used the Maternity Safety Thermometer (MST) to assess the prevalence of harm during maternity care.

METHODS

This secondary analysis of the "Birth in Brazil" survey included a representative sample of 10 155 women who gave birth in public and private hospitals in southeastern Brazil. The main outcomes were perineal and abdominal trauma, maternal infection and hemorrhage, newborn vitality, and women's perception of safety. We calculated the odds ratios (OR) for the number of MST harms (dependent variable).

RESULTS

About 81.6% of the women with vaginal births had sutures for perineal trauma (87.7% of these due to episiotomies). Poor perception of safety was reported by 83.1% of women, and 69.5% of all infants not admitted to the NICU were separated from their mother after birth. The overall rate of cesarean birth was 52.6%, and 7.5% of term infants were admitted to the NICU. In public settings, having an intrapartum cesarean significantly increased the chances of one (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.20-4.07), or two or more (4.08 [2.27-7.32]) harms. In private settings, cesarean deliveries without labor were also associated with higher chances of one (4.26 [2.65-6.85]), or two or more (4.60 [2.35-9.02]) harms. Only 2% of the women had harm-free care.

CONCLUSIONS

In southeastern Brazil, there is a high prevalence of preventable harm during maternity care.

PERINATAL CARE IN A NORTHEASTERN BRAZILIAN STATE: STRUCTURE, WORK PROCESSES, AND EVALUATION OF THE COMPONENTS OF ESSENTIAL NEWBORN CARE

OBJECTIVE

To describe the structure and the processes of care for pregnant women/newborn infants, including the Essential Newborn Care (ENC), in maternity hospitals in Sergipe State, Brazil.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study carried out between June 2015 and April 2016 in all maternity hospitals of Sergipe with more than 500 deliveries/year (n=11). A questionnaire on the existing structure and work processes was administered to the managers. Subsequently, a representative number of postpartum women from these hospitals were interviewed (n=768). Their medical records, as well as newborn infants' records, were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Sergipe has 78 beds of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 90 beds of Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) to meet spontaneous and programmed demand. Only six maternity hospitals (54.5%) performed the risk classification, and four (36.3%) had protocols for high-risk parturient care. Regarding the ENC components, only 41% (n=315) of the women had early skin-to-skin contact with their babies, 33.1% (n=254) breastfed in the first hour of life, and 18% (n=138) had a companion always during birth.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution of NICU beds between capital city and other cities of the State is adequate, considering Brazilian guidelines. However, there was a low adherence to the protocols for hypertensive and hemorrhagic emergencies, and a low coverage of humanization policies, pregnancy risk classification and ENC practices, especially breastfeeding in the first hour of life, and companion always during birth.

Health facility structure and maternal characteristics related to essential newborn care in Brazil: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the use of the WHO's Essential Newborn Care (ENC) programme items and to investigate how the non-use of such technologies associates with the mothers' characteristics and hospital structure.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional observational health facility assessment.

SETTING

This is a secondary analysis of the 'Birth in Brazil' study, a national population-based survey on postnatal women/newborn babies and of 266 publicly and privately funded health facilities (secondary and tertiary level of care).

PARTICIPANTS

Data on 23 894 postnatal women and their newborn babies were analysed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The facility structure was assessed by evaluating the availability of medicines and equipment for perinatal care, a paediatrician on call 24/7, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and kangaroo mother care. The use of each ENC item was assessed according to the health facility structure and the mothers' sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The utilisation of ENC items is low in Brazil. The factors associated with failure in pregnant woman reference were: pregnant adolescents (ORadj 1.17; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.29), ≤7 years of schooling (ORadj 1.47; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.78), inadequate antenatal care (ORadj 1.67; 95% CI 1.47 to 1.89). The non-use of corticosteroids was more frequently associated with the absence of an NICU (ORadj 3.93; 95% CI 2.34 to 6,66), inadequate equipment and medicines (ORadj 2.16; 95% CI 1.17 to 4.01). In caesarean deliveries, there was a less frequent use of a partograph (ORadj 4,93; 95% CI 3.77 to 6.46), early skin-to-skin contact (ORadj 3.07; 95% CI 3.37 to 4.90) and breast feeding in the first hour after birth (ORadj 2.55; 95% CI 2.21 to 2.96).

CONCLUSIONS

The coverage of ENC technologies use is low throughout Brazil and shows regional differences. We found a positive effect of adequate structure at health facilities on antenatal corticosteroids use and on partograph use during labour. We found a negative effect of caesarean section on early skin-to-skin contact and early breast feeding.

Adequacy of public maternal care services in Brazil

Background

In Brazil, hospital childbirth care is available to all, but differences in access and quality of care result in inequalities of maternal health. The objective of this study is to assess the infrastructure and staffing of publicly financed labor and birth care in Brazil and its adequacy according to clinical and obstetric conditions potentially associated with obstetric emergencies.

Methods

Nationwide cross-sectional hospital-based study “Birth in Brazil: national survey into labor and birth” conducted in 2011–2012. Data from 209 hospitals classified as public (public funding and management) or mixed (public or private funding and private management) that generate estimates for 1148 Brazilian hospitals. Interview with hospital managers provided data for the structure adequacy assessment covering four domains: human resources, medications, equipment for women emergency care and support services. We conducted analysis of the structure adequacy rate according to type of hospital (public or mixed), availability of ICU and the woman obstetric risk using the X² test to detect differences in categorical variables with the level of statistical significance set at p <0.05.

Results

Global rate of adequacy of 34.8 %: 42.2 % in public hospitals and 29.0 % in mixed hospitals (p < 0.001). Public and mixed hospitals with ICU had higher scores of adequacy than hospitals without ICU (73.3 % × 24.4 % public hospitals; 40.3 % × 10.6 % mixed hospitals). At a national level, 32.8 % of women with obstetric risk were cared for in hospitals without ICU and 29.5 % of women without risk were cared for in hospitals with ICU. Inequalities were observed with the North, Northeast and non-capital regions having the lower rates of hospitals with ICU.

Conclusions

The majority of maternity wards across the country have a low rate of adequacy that can affect the quality of labor and birth care. This holds true for women at high obstetric risk, who suffer the possibility of having their care compromised by failures of hospital infrastructure, and for women at low obstetric risk, who may not receive the appropriate care to support the natural evolution of their labor when in a technological hospital environment.