Objective: To study the availability of humanized service and healthy birth and it's effect on maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Methods: A multicenteral prospective randomized control study was carried out in 9 maternity hospitals from Nov. 2000 to June 2001. 6,758 laboring women were randomly divided into study group and control group. In study group (n = 3,437), midwives accompany laboring women in whole course of birth until two hours after delivery. According WHO "Monitoring rules for normal birth" medical staff support the mothers in physiological, psychological and physical aspects. In control group (n = 3,321) mothers receive traditional management. Midwives visit and check the mothers discoutinually. In two groups husbands can company laboring women according women's requirement. A questionnaire will be filled on the second day after birth.
Results: In study group the spontaneous delivery rate was significant higher than that of control group (85.5% vs 66.0%, P < 0.01). The cesarean section rate, postpartum hemorrhage rate, neonatal asphyxia rate and neonatal morbidity were marked lower in study group than those of control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Appropriate mode of intrapartum care can decrease the cesarean section rate and promote the vaginal delivery, also it can improve the maternal and neonatal outcomes.