**Author details**

handwashing not being carried out, anticonvulsants not being administered for women with severe preeclampsia, active management of the third stage of labour not being rigorously followed; antibiotics not administered religiously before caesarean sections and skin contact for babies following deliveries not being implemented. These were the experiences we had as users of the checklist in sub-Saharan Africa. All in all; the evidence-based practices for safe childbirth were not being religiously implemented across the obstetric units mostly because of financial constraints and a dearth of human resources. The workforce skills upgrade was the first to improve; however skills alone is not enough to change outcomes; it improved satisfaction with work done; with care received, but with overall morbidity and mortality

To enable visible change in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality outcomes, users of the checklist must in addition to workforce skills training and coaching, advocate for supplies and commodities availability. When antibiotics, anticonvulsants, oxytocics, antiseptics, water, electricity and safe childbirth checklist are available, effective delivery of services, counselling

Using the Safe Childbirth Checklist ensures the delivery of essential maternal and perinatal midwifery care practices. The Safe Childbirth Checklist addresses the major causes of maternal deaths, intrapartum-related stillbirths, and neonatal deaths and enables the caregiver to anticipate and avert complications. It also enables the caregiver to acknowledge the limitations/gaps in the currently available health service delivery unit and advocate for supplies and equipment. It has the potential to facilitate compliance with best practices for the delivery of evidence-based better birth. Complications from obstetric haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour, hypertensive disorders, inadequate intrapartum care, birth asphyxia, infection, and complications related to prematurity can be minimised if the tenets of the checklist are fol-

The authors thank Pfizer for the Pfizer Independent Grant for Learning and Change (Pfizer IGLC) ID Number 33584051; the World Health Organisation Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Unit, Geneva, Switzerland; Dr Clarissa Fabre & Dr Shelley Ross of Medical

and respectful maternity care leads to improved maternal and perinatal outcomes.

reduction, the change is not readily visible.

lowed. Its use in obstetric units is therefore advocated.

Women International Association for their support.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

**5. Conclusion**

108 Selected Topics in Midwifery Care

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

Julius Dohbit<sup>1</sup> , Vetty Agala2, 3, Pamela Chinwa-Banda<sup>4</sup> , Betty Anane-Fenin<sup>5</sup> , Omosivie Maduka3, 6, Ufuoma Edewor<sup>3</sup> , Ibimonye Porbeni3 , Fru Angwafo<sup>1</sup> and Rosemary Ogu3, 7\*

\*Address all correspondence to: rosemary.ogu@uniport.edu.ng

1 The Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

2 Department of Community Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

3 Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

4 Ministry of General Education, Lusaka, Zambia

5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana

6 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

7 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
