2004
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Émile Papiernik et al., « Les variations intra-européennes d’organisation des soins obstétricaux et néonatals », Santé, Société et Solidarité (documents), ID : 10.3406/oss.2004.1238
The experience of pregnancy and childbirth differs greatly in Europe in relation to the number of prenatal visits, the medical personnel responsible for care in pregnancy and during delivery, the characteristics of maternity units and postpartum care. This chapter reviews available information from European studies on the organizational characteristics of perinatal health systems, including perinatal care policies, the supply of medical personnel and the structural characteristics of maternity and neonatal units. We discuss the implications of these varying organizational approaches for the health of women and newborns in the contexts of both high risk and normal pregnancies. While existing studies suggest that distinct organizational models can achieve comparable results, all systems could benefit from a better understanding of how organization affects perinatal care and health outcomes.