Advances In Perinatal Care Practices And Their Impact On Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes

Abstract

Background: Improvements in perinatal care practices, such as antenatal surveillance, evidence-informed intrapartum interventions and improved neonatal care, have led to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes worldwide. Objective: Our aim was to determine the effects of recent perinatal care interventions on maternal morbidity and birth outcomes in a tertiary hospital. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from 2020-2024. We examined 1,200 births. Interventions included continuous fetal surveillance, screening for high risk factors, provision of skilled birth attendants and neonatal resuscitation guidelines. The study compared the results with the period before implementation between 2015-2019. Findings: Adoption of advanced perinatal care practices led to a 25% decrease in maternal complications, such as bleeding and infections. infants, there was a reduction in infant death from 18 to 11 per 1,000 live births. The rates of birth asphyxia fell by 30% and NICU admissions fell by 15%. Early breastfeeding initiation rate increased by 40%. Conclusion: Perinatal care practices that enhance perinatal care improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Having established these practices, embedding evidence-based interventions and training is needed to further improve outcomes.