International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Public health

Objectives: (a) to obtain descriptive data on clients of the Rankin Inlet Birthing Centre (RIBC), a midwifery-based maternity program serving the mostly Inuit population of the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, Canada. Parameters examined included demographics, prenatal care and risk factors, labour management and complications, maternal and neonatal wellbeing and complications, need for transfer, and postpartum care. (b) To evaluate whether the RIBC meets accepted Canadian standards of care and maternal and perinatal safety.

Study Design: A retrospective, descriptive institutional record audit.

Methods: Statistical records kept by RIBC staff for each client receiving care from 1991-2004 were reviewed, and the results collated into data tables. Information available included demographic profile, as well as numerous parameters related to prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care and status of mother and infant. These parameters were considered separately for mothers who delivered at the RIBC and those who delivered at other locations.

Results: A total of 502 deliveries were reviewed. Four of these deliveries were of twins, and five were stillbirths, for a total of 506 total births and 501 live births. 238 of the deliveries occurred in Rankin Inlet; most of the others occurred in larger centres. There were no records of neonatal or maternal deaths among the audit population. Ten women were transferred from Rankin Inlet to other centres during labour, and there were 24 deliveries in which mother and/or baby were transported from Rankin Inlet to another centre in the postpartum period. Half of the deliveries involving transfer in labour or postpartum were preterm. Overall, there were 53 preterm deliveries during the audit period. Data was also collected on a number of other factors related to prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care.

Conclusions: The RIBC has met an acceptable standard of care over the years of its operation. Ongoing data collection and quality improvement activities should continue.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

© 1996-2005, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk
Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)