Quality of Obstetric Care and the "Near Miss" Approach

Maternal mortality (MM) has always been the key measure in the monitoring and adequacy of obstetric services worldwide. However, it is not a good indicator of the quality of parturient care. The study of severe maternal morbidity or near miss (NM) is a promising complement or alternative to the MM survey. During the study period, 2098 deliveries were recorded, including 15 cases of NM. No maternal deaths were recorded. Bleeding disorders and hypertensive disorders were the main disorders found in NM. 40% of NM cases were admitted to the intensive care unit. This study reinforces the value of complementary analysis of near miss indicators to assess the quality of care provided to pregnant women. The study of near miss cases leads to the identification of preventive measures and actions designed to improve the safety and quality of care in order to reduce NM as much as possible and guarantee parturients a risk-free maternity.