STANDARDS FOR IMPROVING QUALITY OF CARE FOR MATERNAL HEALTH

The standards aim to improve the quality of maternal care at health center level, ensuring that every woman receives routine, evidence-based care and management of complications during antenatal, labor, childbirth, and the early postnatal period. Standard 1 emphasizes the importance of routine, evidence-based care and management of complications during antenatal, labor, childbirth, and the early postnatal period, according to national guidelines. This includes providing pregnant women with routine antenatal care, including assessment of body weight, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, as well as tests for hemoglobin, blood sugar, syphilis, HIV, and urine protein and sugar. Standard 2 highlights the need for a health information system that enables the use of data to ensure early and appropriate action to improve the care of every woman. This includes collecting and analyzing data on maternal health outcomes, as well as using data to inform decision-making and improve the quality of care. Standard 3 emphasizes the importance of timely referral for women with conditions that cannot be managed effectively with available resources. This includes referring women to higher-level facilities for further care and management. Standard 4 emphasizes the importance of effective communication with women and their families, responding to their needs and preferences. This includes providing counseling and support to women and their families, as well as involving them in decision-making and care planning. Standard 5 emphasizes the importance of providing care with respect and preservation of dignity. This includes ensuring that women are treated with respect and dignity, and that their autonomy and decision-making capacity are respected. Standard 6 emphasizes the importance of providing emotional support to women and their families, strengthening their capability and resilience. This includes providing counseling and support to women and their families, as well as involving them in decision-making and care planning. Standard 7 emphasizes the importance of having competent, motivated staff consistently available to provide routine care and manage complications. This includes ensuring that health facilities have adequate staffing, training, and resources to provide high-quality care. Standard 8 emphasizes the importance of having an appropriate physical environment, with adequate water, sanitation, and energy supplies, medicines, supplies, and equipment for routine maternal care and management of complications. This includes ensuring that health facilities have adequate infrastructure, equipment, and resources to provide high-quality care. To support the implementation of these standards, health facilities are required to have essential supplies and equipment, including adult weighing machines, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, Pinard fetoscopes, thermometers, sterile gloves, handwashing supplies, blood drawing supplies, and puncture-proof containers. They are also required to have essential medicines and vaccines, including ferrous sulphate, folic acid, micronutrients, Vitamin B-1, mebendazole, and Tetanus Diptheria toxoid. Health facilities are also required to have trained staff who have received regular or refresher training in routine antenatal care, early initial assessment, and identification of emergency complications. They are also required to have a counseling unit for PMTCT of HIV test for pregnant women. In terms of process, health facilities are required to assess pregnant women's body weight, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, as well as perform tests for hemoglobin, blood sugar, syphilis, HIV, and urine protein and sugar. They are also required to refer pregnant women to hospital for tests for urinary tract infection if signs present and obstetric ultrasound scan before 24 weeks to detect abnormalities and confirm fetal maturity. Additionally, they are required to screen pregnant women for Tuberculosis through history and physical examination. Overall, the Maternal Health Standards for Improving Quality of Care at Health Center Level in Myanmar aim to improve the quality of maternal care, ensuring that every woman receives routine, evidence-based care and management of complications during antenatal, labor, childbirth, and the early postnatal period.