Understanding implementation of quality improvement initiatives for maternal and newborn health: Exploring maternal and perinatal death audit

Abstract

Poor quality of health services contributes to high maternal and perinatal mortality, particularly in regions with the greatest burden of deaths, such as sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR), or any related maternal and perinatal death audit processes, is a quality improvement process aiming to end preventable deaths and strengthen health systems. It does so by applying a continuous cycle of identification, notification, and review of maternal and perinatal deaths to determine avoidable causes followed by actions to improve care and prevent future deaths.