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Table 1 Signal functions used to identify basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care services

From: Evidence from facility level inputs to improve quality of care for maternal and newborn health: interventions and findings

Basic services

Comprehensive services

(1) Administer parenteral antibiotics

Perform signal functions 1–7, plus:

(2) Administer uterotonic drugs (i.e. parenteral oxytocin)

(8) Perform surgery (e.g. caesarean section)

(3) Administer parenteral anticonvulsants for preeclampsia and eclampsia (i.e. magnesium sulfate).

(9) Perform blood transfusion

(4) Manually remove the placenta

 

(5) Remove retained products (e.g. manual vacuum extraction, dilation and curettage)

 

(6) Perform assisted vaginal delivery (e.g. vacuum extraction, forceps delivery)

 

(7) Perform basic neonatal resuscitation (e.g. with bag and mask)

 

A basic emergency obstetric care facility is one in which all functions 1–7 are performed.

A comprehensive emergency obstetric care facility is one in which all functions 1–9 are performed.