Title: Perinatal Network in Argentina: Lessons from the Field
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Section/SPIG: Maternal and Child Health
Issue Date:
During the social crisis that occurred in Argentina in 2001, the need to improve the capacities of the public health sector, in the context of political and institutional responsibilities, was our primary goal. As a result, a project based on the creation of a network of perinatal units for an under-served population in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area was developed. This initiative was supported by the MOH of Buenos Aires Province, the Buenos Aires City, and CESTAS (Centro di Educazione Sanitaria e Tecnologie Appropriate Sanitarie, Italy). The network integrated 10 public hospitals. The main objectives of this project were to develop research capacities and the use of epidemiological tools to generate awareness, to improve the quality of health care delivery for pregnant women and to contribute to formulate comprehensive health care policies. Although less than two years have passed since the inception, there are some positive results to share:
- Ten perinatal units are working in collaboration, recognizing each other as significant partners.
- A program of training activities (including perinatal epidemiology, clinical guidelines development and evidence based medicine) was established in order to build local teams. The network is now publishing its second perinatal epi report.
- Two research projects are underway: one evaluating the prevalence of beneficial and harmful health practices and the other to develop of a set of indicators that will evaluate perinatal health progress at the regional level.
Research and training are potent instruments to motivate health workers, to provide valid knowledge based on their own realities, experiences and needs and to provide better quality of care to the population. For further information, contact Raul Mercer, MD, MSc (scientific coordinator), or Arile Karolinski, MD (general coordinator), at: <www.redperinatalamba.org.ar>.