Impact of integrated maternal health care on reducing pregnancy and delivery complications in Qazvin province (2009-2011)

  Background: Access to prenatal care has an extremely important role in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in the world.   Objective: To evaluate the effect of integrated maternal health care program on reducing pregnancy and delivery complications in Qazvin province.   Methods: This was a cohort study carried out on 450 pregnant women who were visited at maternal health centers in two cities of Qazvin and Alborz between 2009-2011. The sampling method used was based upon objective. A researcher-made questionnaire composed of three parts marked as pre -pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum was used for collecting data . All information was obtained from clinical files , observations, interviews with relevant people in charge ( general practitioners or midwives ), and mothers who visited the health centers . Samples were followed up from the entry time to study until the time of postpartum visit . The two study groups (one provided with integrated health care and the other with routine health care) were examined for pregnancy complications . Data were analyzed by independent t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney U-test .   Findings : The rate of gestational complications including hypertension (P=0.03), preterm delivery (P=0.03), and premature infants (P=0.02) were lower in mothers who received integrated maternal health care . Moreover, the referral rate for the group with integrated maternal health care was higher compared to the one with routine health care (P=0.001).   Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, despite the implementation of almost 60% of the integrated maternal program in the city of Alborz, it seems that the program had a positive impact on reducing gestational complications and promoting maternal health.