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Background: We assessed the change in obstetric management after implementation of a quality improvement intervention, the Nepal Perinatal Quality Improvement Package (NePeriQIP). Methods: The Nepal Perinatal Quality Improvement Package was a stepped‐wedge cluster‐randomized controlled trial conducted in 12 public hospitals in Nepal between April 2017 and October 2018. In this study, three hospitals allocated at different time points to the intervention were selected for a nested before–after analysis. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to compare obstetric management in the control vs intervention group. Results: There were 25 977 deliveries in the three hospitals during the study period: 10 207 (39%) in the control and 15 770 (61%) in the intervention group. After adjusting for maternal age, ethnicity, education, gestational age, stage of labor at admission, complications during labor, and birthweight, the intervention group had a higher proportion of fetal heart rate monitoring performed as per protocol (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–1.27), shorter time intervals between each fetal heart rate monitoring (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.96–2.23), a higher likelihood of abnormal fetal heart rate being detected (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.25–1.68), progress of labor more often being recorded immediately after per vaginal examination (aOR 2.73, 95% CI 2.55–2.93), and partograph filled as per standards (aOR 3.18, 95% CI 2.98–3.50). The cesarean birth rate was 2.5% in the control group and 8.2% in the intervention group (aOR 3.12, 95% CI 2.64–3.68). Conclusions: The NePeriQIP intervention has potential to improve obstetric care, especially intrapartum fetal surveillance, in similar low‐resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adherence to intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring (FHRM) for early decision making in high-risk pregnancies remains a global health challenge. COVID-19 has led to disruption of routine intrapartum care in all income settings. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of quality improvement (QI) intervention to improve intrapartum FHRM and birth outcome before and during pandemic. Method and materials: We conducted an observational study among 10,715 pregnant women in a hospital of Nepal, over 25 months. The hospital implemented QI intervention i.e facilitated plan-do-study-act (PDSA) meetings before and during pandemic. We assessed the change in intrapartum FHRM, timely action in high-risk deliveries and fetal outcomes before and during pandemic. Results: The number of facilitated PDSA meetings increased from an average of one PDSA meeting every 2 months before pandemic to an average of one PDSA meeting per month during the pandemic. Monitoring and documentation of intrapartum FHRM at an interval of less than 30 minutes increased from 47% during pre-pandemic to 73.3% during the pandemic (p<0.0001). The median time interval from admission to abnormal heart rate detection decreased from 160 minutes to 70 minutes during the pandemic (p = 0.020). The median time interval from abnormal FHR detection to the time of delivery increased from 122 minutes to 177 minutes during the pandemic (p = 0.019). There was a rise in abnormal FHR detection during the time of admission (1.8% vs 4.7%; p<0.001) and NICU admissions (2.9% vs 6.5%; p<0.0001) during the pandemic. Conclusion: Despite implementation of QI intervention during the pandemic, the constrains in human resource to manage high risk women has led to poorer neonatal outcome. Increasing human resources to manage high risk women will be key to timely action among high-risk women and prevent stillbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of oxytocin to augment labor is increasing in many low-resource settings; however, little is known about the effects of such use in contexts where resources for intrapartum monitoring are scarce. In this study, we sought to assess the association between augmentation of labor with oxytocin and delivery outcomes.Material and Methods: We conducted a cohort study in 12 public hospitals in Nepal, including all deliveries with and without augmentation of labor with oxytocin, but excluding elective cesarean sections, women with missing information on augmentation of labor, and women without fetal heart rate on admission. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression calculating the crude and adjusted risk ratio (aRR) with corresponding 95% CI were performed, comparing (a) intrapartum stillbirth and first-day mortality (primary outcome); and (b) intrapartum monitoring, mode of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, bag-and-mask ventilation of the newborn, Apgar score, and neonatal death before discharge (secondary outcomes) among women with and without oxytocin-augmented labor.Results: The total cohort consisted of 78 931 women, of whom 28 915 (37%) had labor augmented with oxytocin and 50 016 (63%) did not have labor augmented with oxytocin. Women with augmentation of labor had no increased risk of intrapartum stillbirth and first-day mortality (aRR 1.24, 95% CI 0.65-2.4), but decreased risks of suboptimal partograph use (aRR 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.74), suboptimal fetal heart rate monitoring (aRR 0.50, 95% CI 0.48-0.53), and emergency cesarean section (aRR 0.62, 95% CI 0.59-0.66), and increased risks of bag-and-mask ventilation (aRR 2.1, 95% CI 1.8-2.5), Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes (aRR 1.65, 95% CI 1.49-1.86), and neonatal death (aRR 1.93, 95% CI 1.46-2.56).Conclusions: Although augmentation of labor with oxytocin might be associated with beneficial effects, such as improved monitoring and a decreased risk of cesarean section, its use may lead to an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. We urge for a cautious use of oxytocin to augment labor in low-resource contexts, and call for evidence-based guidelines on augmentation of labor in low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Global estimates suggest 2.6 million stillbirths and 2.5 million neonatal deaths occur annually worldwide. The majority of these deaths occur in low resource settings where analysis of health metrics and outcomes measurements may be challenging. We examined the misclassification of documented intrapartum stillbirth and factors associated with misclassification.Material and Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in 12 public hospitals in Nepal. Data were extracted from the medical records of all births that occurred during the 6-month period of the study. For the study purpose, we classified birth outcome based on the presence of fetal heart sound (FHS) at admission and use of neonatal resuscitation. The health worker-documented intrapartum stillbirths were considered potentially misclassified when there were FHS present at admission and no resuscitation initiated after birth. The association between potentially misclassified intrapartum stillbirth and complications during labor, birthweight and gestational age was assessed using Pearson's chi-square test, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results: A total of 39 562 mother-infant dyads were enrolled in the study, all of whom had FHS at admission. Among the 391 intrapartum stillbirths recorded during the study, 180 (46.0%) of them had FHS at admission with no resuscitation initiated after birth and were considered potentially misclassified intrapartum stillbirths. Among these potentially misclassified intrapartum stillbirths, 170 (43.5%) had FHS present 15 minutes before birth and 10 had no FHS 15 minutes before birth Among the potentially misclassified intrapartum stillbirths, 23.3% had complications during labor, 93.3% had birthweight less than 2500 g and 90.0% were born preterm. The risk of intrapartum misclassification was nearly four times higher among low birthweight babies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8 to 7.0, P < 0.001) and five times higher among preterm babies (aOR 5.3, 95% CI 3.0 to 9.3, P < 0.001).Conclusions: We estimate that 46% of intrapartum stillbirths were potentially misclassified intrapartum stillbirths. Improving quality of both FHS monitoring and neonatal resuscitation as well as measurement of the care will reduce the risk of potentially misclassified intrapartum stillbirth and consequently intrapartum stillbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Companionship at the time of birth is a nonclinical intervention that has been proven to improve the quality of intrapartum care. This study aims to evaluate the coverage, associated factors, and impact of companionship during labor at public hospitals in Nepal. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional observational study in six public hospitals in Nepal. The study was conducted from July 2018 to August 2018. Data were collected on sociodemographic, maternal, obstetric, and neonatal characteristics from patient case notes and through predischarge interviews. Coverage of companionship during labor and its association with intrapartum care was analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to assess the association between companionship during labor and demographic, obstetric, and neonatal characteristics. Results: A total of 63 077 women participated in the study with 19% of them having a companion during labor. Women aged 19‐24 years had 65% higher odds of having a companion during labor compared with women aged 35 years and older (aOR 1.65 [95% CI, 1.40‐1.94]). Women who were from an advantaged ethnic group (Chhetri/Brahmin) had fourfold higher odds of having a companion than women from a disadvantaged group (aOR 3.84; [95% CI, 3.24‐4.52]). Women who had companions during labor had fewer unnecessary cesarean births than those who had no companions (5.2% vs 6.8%, P <.001). Conclusions: In Nepal, sociodemographic factors affect women's likelihood of having a companion during labor. As companionship during labor is associated with improved quality of care, health facilities should encourage women's access to birth companions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Each year, 2.2 million intrapartum-related deaths (intrapartum stillbirths and first day neonatal deaths) occur worldwide with 99% of them taking place in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the accelerated increase in the proportion of deliveries taking place in health facilities in these settings, the stillborn and neonatal mortality rates have not reduced proportionately. Poor quality of care in health facilities is attributed to two-thirds of these deaths. Improving quality of care during the intrapartum period needs investments in evidence-based interventions. We aim to evaluate the quality improvement package-Scaling Up Safer Bundle Through Quality Improvement in Nepal (SUSTAIN)-on intrapartum care and intrapartum-related mortality in public hospitals of Nepal.Methods: We will conduct a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in eight public hospitals with each having least 3000 deliveries a year. Each hospital will represent a cluster with an intervention transition period of 2 months in each. With a level of significance of 95%, the statistical power of 90% and an intra-cluster correlation of 0.00015, a study period of 19 months should detect at least a 15% change in intrapartum-related mortality. Quality improvement training, mentoring, systematic feedback, and a continuous improvement cycle will be instituted based on bottleneck analyses in each hospital. All concerned health workers will be trained on standard basic neonatal resuscitation and essential newborn care. Portable fetal heart monitors (Moyo®) and neonatal heart rate monitors (Neobeat®) will be introduced in the hospitals to identify fetal distress during labor and to improve neonatal resuscitation. Independent research teams will collect data in each hospital on intervention inputs, processes, and outcomes by reviewing records and carrying out observations and interviews. The dose-response effect will be evaluated through process evaluations.Discussion: With the global momentum to improve quality of intrapartum care, better understanding of QI package within a health facility context is important. The proposed package is based on experiences from a similar previous scale-up trial carried out in Nepal. The proposed evaluation will provide evidence on QI package and technology for implementation and scale up in similar settings.Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN16741720 . Registered on 2 March 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]