La atención al parto en diferentes países de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OCDE)

Scientific and technological advances have entailed an increased influence of medicine in the process of pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum with the institutionalisation this entails for childbirth care in the hospitals of most industrialised countries. Several organisational and childbirth care models are in place and differences can be observed between them with regard to the outcomes of such care. Aim: To describe differing organisational and childbirth care models in the chosen countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and identify variations in the organisational structure of the models observed. Methodology: To conduct a bibliographical search and questionnaire on key informers from various countries to identify relevant aspects concerning service funding, care settings and distribution of authority in this sphere. Results: A description is given of the organisation and childbirth care model on the context of the health systems of each country. The countries studied are: Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. OECD indicators are presented on healthcare activity, the operation of the health system and the state of health of the population. Conclusions: Several forms of organising maternity care have been observed from the countries chosen and differences have been identified in the outcomes of care. There are numerous kinds of settings for providing care to women with a low obstetric risk during the maternity process. In the healthcare systems analysed, care for women during pregnancy is often provided in a non-hospital setting; however, when it comes to childbirth care, several options are available in terms of the setting and care which can even be chosen by women themselves in certain cases. The indicators selected point to a broad range of results among the chosen countries and it would be appropriate to research the possible link between this variation in terms of the kind of organisation and care provided during maternity and, accordingly, to identify common criteria relating to specific aspects in care for women with low obstetric risks.