[New criteria and quality of health care services in the governorate of Monastir, Tunisia]

ABSTRACT

In 2005 new quality criteria [7 items] were introduced for services provided to mother and child under the national perinatality programme. We evaluated this new version in a descriptive study conducted among a random sample of 400 parturient women from Monastir governorate. Mean age was 29.3 [SD 5] years and 42% were primipara. Although prenatal care was adequate in terms of number of antenatal visits for 82.5% of women, for only 21% were all 7 quality criteria fulfilled. The rates of caesarean section and premature birth were significantly higher in women who received quality care [P < 0.05]. In logistic regression analysis, age and parity were the only factors independently associated with the quality of care. Additional efforts are needed to ensure good maternal and infant quality of care