Maternal health in India: A survey of birth attendant competency through completeness of prescribed care during perinatal visits, in 12 randomly chosen districts of Uttar Pradesh, India.

We assessed the completeness of care provided during perinatal visits at public institutions in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Self-reported data from 53 interviews with birth attendants throughout 12 districts in UP showed that 52% of the items from a procedural checklist were covered during visits. Routine visits were found to be incomplete, provider training related to pharmaceuticals and counseling were suggested to be low, and the monitoring of vitals to be infrequent and inconsistent. We suggest further grassroots research be conducted in developing nations so that strategic and precise reform can be made to lower global maternal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]