International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Beyond the numbers: implementation of new approaches for reviewing maternal and perinatal deaths to make pregnancy safer in the Republic of Moldova 

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecology of the Republic of Moldova, working with the Moldovan Association of Midwives and the Association of Perinatal Medicine, has been implementing perinatal mortality audits as a means to improve maternity and newborn care. The confidential enquiry into perinatal deaths is a participatory, multidisciplinary, no-blame, confidential and evidence-based approach to: determine the real causes of the death; determine factors that lead to the death; analyse if management was according to standards; and propose solutions to prevent fatal events;

The general aim is to reduce perinatal mortality among babies with a gestational age of more than 37 weeks of age and with a birth weight of more than 2500g in the Republic of Moldova. Key activities include training in audit, implementation of audit committees, the review of cases and dissemination of information. 

Key successes:

• The tools they have produced are now being used at the national level. 100 per cent approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Health.
• Perinatal mortality has been reduced, at little cost.  

• Good integration of midwives in perinatal audit process (expert midwives).

• The Project organised and hosted a two day international conference about perinatal audits in June 2010.

Twinned country association: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK) 

Conclusion date: 31 December 2010

Prof Jason Gardosi; Prof Petru Stratulat; Dr Ala Curteanu; Dr Stelian Hodorogea

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