Patterns and determinants of maternity care in Damascus

This descriptive study was designed to describe the patterns and determinants of maternity care among Syrian women living in Damascus. All 39 birth registers in 2 large provinces were used to recruit 500 mothers of healthy newborns. Mothers were interviewed in their homes using a semistructured questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of the determinants of the frequency of use of antenatal care showed the following variables were significant: urban residence and visit to antenatal care in the 1[st] trimester. The significant variables for an early visit to antenatal care were the woman's level of education; being pregnant with the 1st baby; and number of visits to antenatal care. Being young [age < 20 years] also correlated with early timing of the 1st antenatal visit

Routine care of normal deliveries as applied in Syrian maternity wards

routine practices during normal childbirth have not been studied in Syria. Our study was designed to describe the routines of normal childbirth as practiced in maternity wards in Syrian hospitals and to assess whether these routines are in accordance with the best evidence-based practices. a nationally representative sample of 57 hospitals was visited: 33 were government hospitals and 24 were private hospitals. The personnel in charge were interviewed using a specially designed questionnaire that covered both management and technical points. only 2 of the 57 hospitals had a written policy concerning childbirth, although 29 had a written breast-feeding policy. All except two hospitals reported the capability of doing a cesarean section at any time. Results on hospital routines are presented in the light of the available best-evidence guidelines. the study highlights the urgent necessity to formulate a national policy for care in normal birth. This policy needs to be designed bearing in mind the best evidence available and the nature of the national setting