Section D – Measuring Quality and Quality Improvement in MNH

Purpose

To provide an overview of approaches, indicators and data sources used to capture and measure quality in Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) in low and middle income countries (LMIC).

Introduction

This will explore the main ways that quality can be measured and improvements monitored. This is important for several reasons:

• The concept of quality-led governance (as defined by OECD forum in 2010) is a driving principle of health systems. One way of ensuring accountability is by providing data and information on whether quality services are being provided.
• Measuring quality also allows the results or outcomes of quality improvement interventions to be assessed.
• Capturing data on quality also allows us to compare performance against standards and norms; and across different health facilities, providers, geographical areas and countries.
• Understanding the level of quality provides a better perspective from which to interpret health care indicators such as mortality and morbidity rates.

This will look at data sources, methods to capture data quality (with regard to the three main dimensions of quality) and global indicators, norms and standards.