The studies were undertaken to evaluate risk factors and outcomes in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births, in cohort studies using the population-based Swedish Birth, Twin and Education Registers. A cohort study of pregnant women from Uppsala County evaluated the effect on birthweight by caffeine. Maternal anthropometrics influence risks of SGA at all gestational ages. Smoking increases risks of moderately preterm and term SGA, while hypertensive disorders foremost increase the risk of preterm SGA. Monozygotic twin mothers have higher concordance rates in offspring birthweight-for-gestational length than dizygotic twin mothers, indicating genetic effects on fetal growth. Caffeine is not associated with a reduction in birthweight or birthweight-for-gestational age. The increased risk of stillbirth in postterm pregnancies is explained by increased rates of SGA in postterm pregnancies. Births with malformations account for a large part of the SGA-related increased risk of infant death. SGA, as defined by an individualised birth-weight standard, is a better predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes than the commonly used population-based birthweight standard. Risk factors for SGA, as well as the prognosis for the SGA infant, vary with gestational age. However, the commonly used definition of SGA is probably a poor predictor of intrauterine growth retardation.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-11-09T14:45:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1648 bytes, checksum: e095249ac7cacefbfe39684dfe45e706 (MD5) 000227.pdf: 618359 bytes, checksum: 66377ddbd51c6f2ae1dc1ac99d13c169 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Ensino. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e da Mulher. Rio de Janeiro, RJ< Brasil / Este estudo objetivou analisar o entendimento das informações fornecidas e as opções reprodutivas de mulheres que passaram pelo aconselhamento genético (AG) no Instituto Fernandes Figueira (IFF)/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ). Muitos artigos mostram que a lembrança dos riscos de recorrência e a interpretação dos riscos de forma correta são fundamentais para o planejamento reprodutivo. Primeiramente foi feito uma análise quantitativa, através de freqüências simples, para o levantamento do perfil das mulheres atendidas durante os anos de 2002 e 2003 (160 mulheres), quanto à idade, escolaridade e estado civil. Avaliamos também o fluxograma do atendimento durante o pré-natal e nas consultas de AG.Posteriormente foi realizada uma pesquisa, através de entrevistas estruturadas (35 perguntas), enviadas pelo correio para as 101 mulheres atendidas no período de 2002 a 2004, que se enquadravam nos critérios de inclusão ( filho natimorto ou neomorto com anomalia congênita e que foi submetido a necrópsia, avaliação genética, ou estudo citogenético). Recebemos 34 respostas ( com termo de consentimento livre e informado assinado), que foram analisadas fazendo-se uso das abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa, para verificar o entendimento das clientes em relação ao diagnóstico, risco de recorrência, interpretação de riscos e suas opções reprodutivas após o AG.Encontramos respostas condizentes com as informações fornecidas em relação à lembrança do risco numérico e à interpretação do risco em torno de 53 por cento e 56 por cento , respectivamente. Percebemos, entretanto, que em nosso estudo o desejo de ter filhos esteve mais fortemente ligado às decisões reprodutivas do que os riscos de recorrência fornecidos. / This study aimed to analyze how the information provided to women through genetic counselling (GC) in Instituto Fernandes Figueira (IFF) / Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) was understood and their reproductive options thereafter. Many authors point out that recalling the recurrence risks and their correct interpretation are extremely important for reproductive planning. A quantitative analysis was performed using simple frequencies to characterize the profile of the women who sought GC in the years 2002 and 2003 (160 women). Data such as age, education level and marital status were collected. The flowchart of care during prenatal and GC consultations was studied. After the profile analysis, a structured interview comprising 35 questions was sent by mail to 101 women who underwent GC in the years 2002 to 2004 and fullfilled the inclusion criteria (whose babies had congenital anomalies and werestillborn or died in the neonatal period and underwent autopsy, genetic evaluation or chromosomal investigation). The 34 responses (with signed informed consent to participate in the study) were received and underwent both quantitative and qualitative analyses, where the clients´ understanding was verified regarding diagnosis,recurrence risks, risk interpretation and their reproductive options after the conclusion of GC. Responses were in accordance to the information provided in GC, regarding remembrance of the numerical recurrence risk and its interpretation in 53% and 56%, respectively. Our study showed, however, that the desire to have children was more strongly related to the reproductive decisions than the informed recurrence risks.

Introdução. As hipóteses levantadas sobre as relações entre as variáveis de exposição e o óbito fetal, via diversos mecanismos, são desenhadas em um diagrama a partir de um quadro conceitual feito pelo pesquisador. Testes sobre essas relações podem ser feitos por meio da modelagem por equações estruturais (MEE). Objetivo. Este estudo objetiva compreender o papel da situação socioeconômica (SSE), da não-aceitação da gravidez (nAdG) e assistência pré-natal na mortalidade fetal, na região sul do município de São Paulo, em 2000. Métodos. Foram construídas variáveis latentes para representar a situação socioeconômica e a não-aceitação da gravidez, a partir de dados da pesquisa do tipo caso-controle sobre mortalidade fetal no município de São Paulo, feita em 2000. Foi testado um modelo para o desfecho óbito fetal com as variáveis latentes, a assistência pré-natal, intercorrências (hipertensão, diabetes gestacional, sangramento vaginal) e retardo de crescimento intra-uterino (RCIU) por meio do MEE. A SSE foi formada por escolaridades da mãe e do chefe da família, classificação socioeconômica e renda per capita; a nAdG foi formada a partir das reações da mãe, pai e família, tentativa de aborto e se a gravidez foi planejada. Resultados. O modelo final apontou a relação entre a situação socioeconômica e não-aceitação da gravidez sobre a mortalidade fetal, passando pelo cuidado de pré-natal inadequado, modelo no qual intercorrências e RCIU também tem efeito sobre o desfecho. Conclusões. Os resultados sugerem que aceitação negativa da gravidez e o efeito da situação socioeconômica desfavorável, mediados pela atenção de pré-natal, podem ser amenizadas com uma maior qualidade nas visitas de pré-natal, especialmente em mães de maior vulnerabilidade social. / Introduction. The hypothesis about the relations among exposure variables and the fetal death are written as a diagram designed from a conceptual framework given by the researcher. Tests on these relations can be performed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Objective. This study aim to understand the role of socioeconomic situation (SES), non-acceptance of pregnancy (nAoP) and prenatal care on fetal mortality, in region south of the city of São Paulo, in 2000. Methodology. The measurement models were created to the latent variables SES and nAoP, from case-control study on fetal mortality in Sao Paulo city, in 2000. It was tested a model with SES, nAoP, prenatal care, medical complications (hypertension, gestational diabetes, vaginal bleeding), intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) on the outcome, performed by SEM. Results. The SES was composed by mothers and household heads years of study, socioeconomic classification index, and income per capita income; The AoP was composed by reactions of mother, father and family, attempted abortion and planned gestation. The final model showed the effect of SES and AoP on fetal death mediated by prenatal care, in a model where medical complications and IUGR also has an effect. Conclusion. The results suggests that negative acceptance of pregnancy and unfavorable socioeconomic situation, mediated by prenatal care, could be minimized improving the quality of prenatal care especially to those who are more social vulnerable.

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / See the attached abstract below

In addition to fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with many other adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Research suggests that alcohol use during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome. This research has some inherent difficulties, such as the collection of accurate information about alcohol consumption during pregnancy and controlling for comorbid exposures and conditions. Consequently, attributing poor birth outcomes to prenatal alcohol exposure is a complicated and ongoing task, requiring continued attention to validated methodology and to identifying specific biological mechanisms.

I Sverige föds ungefär 440 barn döda varje år. Intrauterin fosterdöd kan beskrivas som en stilla födsel och definieras som framfödande av barn som saknar livstecken efter 22 fullgångna graviditetsveckor. En förlossning av ett dödfött barn sker på liknande sätt som en förlossning med ett levande barn. Skillnaden är att fosterhjärtljuden inte behöver övervakas eller registreras. Modern som genomgår förlossningen kan då istället få all uppmärksamhet. Att få ett dödfött barn tillhör inte en vanlig livserfarenhet och innebär en chock för föräldrarna. Intrauterin fosterdöd kan orsaka kraftiga psykiska besvär hos modern. En majoritet har planerat månader och ibland år i förväg för hur livet med ett barn kommer att bli och när barnet sedan dör intrauterint rasar hela deras värld. Sorgen efter ett barn som får en stilla födsel beskrivs som långvarig och djup, speciellt för modern som bär barnet i sin kropp.   Syftet med föreliggande litteraturöversikt var att belysa moderns psykiska hälsa efter att hon mist sitt barn intrauterint.   För att på lämpligt sätt besvara föreliggande studies syfte valdes en litteraturöversikt som metod. Databassökningar gjordes via PubMed, CINAHL och PsychINFO. Resultatet av sökningarna medförde att 18 vetenskapliga artiklar inkluderades. Artiklarna var publicerade från år 2008 till och med år 2018 och både artiklar med kvalitativ och kvantitativ ansats inkluderades i studien. Vetenskaplig kvalitetsgranskning och klassificering genomfördes utifrån Sophiahemmet Högskolas utarbetade bedömningsunderlag. Resultatet framtogs genom integrerad analys av innehåll.   I resultatet framkom det att modern kan drabbas av olika psykiska besvär med varierande svårighetsgrad efter att hon mist sitt barn intrauterint. Ångest, depression, oro, tvångstankar, posttraumatiskt stressyndrom och självmordstankar förekommer. Besvären kan finnas kvar lång tid efter dödfödseln. Känslor av tomhet, olust och skuld beskrevs hos ett flertal mödrar samt skillnader i hur samhället betraktade dem på grund av socioekonomisk och kulturell status. Genom att få stöd från sjukvården och barnmorskor kunde symtomen och besvären minska. Att samla minnen, hålla i barnet, utföra ritualer, mindfulness, stödsamtal eller psykoterapi ledde till att besvären kunde minska.   Slutsatsen som framkommit från föreliggande litteraturöversikt är att den psykiska hälsan hos modern kunde påverkas negativt av den kris som en intrauterin fosterdöd innebär. Hur svåra och långvariga besvären blev var beroende av tillgängligheten och kvaliteten på generellt stöd samt vårdinsatser. / In Sweden, approximately 440 children are stillborn every year. Intrauterine fetal death is sometimes described as a still birth and is defined as the birth of a child who has shown no sign of life after 22 completed pregnancy weeks. The birth of a stillborn child is similar to the birth of a living child. The difference is that the fetal heartbeat does not need to be monitored or recorded. Full attention can be directed at the mother giving birth. Giving birth to a stillborn child is not a normal life experience and is a shock for the parents. Intrauterine fetal death can cause the mother severe mental disorders. A majority has planned months and sometimes years in advance for how life with a child will be and when the child then dies their entire world crumbles. Grieving for a child who is stillborn is described as long lasting and deep, especially for the mother who carried the child in her body.   The aim of this literature review was to illuminate the mother's mental health after she has lost her baby intrauterine.      In order to adequately respond to the purpose of the study, a literature review was chosen as a method. Database searches were made through PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO. The result of the searches led to the inclusion of 18 scientific articles. The articles were published from year 2008 to 2018 and both qualitative and quantitative articles were included in the study. Scientific quality review and classification was implemented in the foundation of the Sophiahemmet University Hospital. The result was developed through integrated content analysis.   From the result it emerged that the mother could suffer from various mental disorders with varying degrees of difficulties after she has lost her child intrauterine. Anxiety, depression, worrying, obsessive thoughts, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts occur. The discomfort can last long after the birth of a stillborn child. Feelings of emptiness, unrest and guilt were shown by a number of mothers as well as differences in how society saw them based on their socio-economic and cultural status. By receiving support from health care staff and midwives, the symptoms and disorders could be reduced. Collecting memories, holding the child, performing rituals, mindfulness, counseling or psychotherapy could also lead to reduced symptoms.   The conclusion from the literature review is that the mental health of the mother was adversely affected by the crisis that an intrauterine fetal death implies. How severe and long-lasting problems became, depended on availability and quality of general support and efforts from the healthcare system.

Background: Occupational hazards have a high potential to adversely impact the sexual and reproductive health of workers regardless of gender or sex. In Canada, workers' reproductive health and safety are protected by federal and provincial/territorial occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and related policies. It is unknown whether these policies include directives to protect workers from exposure to reproductive health hazards, harassment, sexual harassment, and violence in the workplace. This thesis explores whether Canadian federal and provincial/territorial OHS and related legislation address reproductive health protections for all workers and employees (women+ and men), including pregnant workers' safety, harassment, sexual harassment, and violence in the workplace. Materials and Methods: We adopted the READ approach (readying your materials, extracting data, analyzing data, and distilling findings), a systematic procedure to conduct a policy content analysis to evaluate Canadian federal and provincial/territorial OHS legislation, employment standards and human rights codes all enacted between 2013 and 2023. Data analysis included thematic content analysis to identify codes organized into themes and a frequency analysis of key concepts. We used an SGBA+ (Sex and Gender-Based Plus Analysis) to apply a gender equality lens to our exploration of Canadian legislation in the context of reproductive health protections, harassment, sexual harassment, and violence protection. Results: Our findings revealed a widespread recognition of workplace accommodations for pregnant workers, including pregnancy and parental leaves, in Canadian OHS legislation; however, there was little recognition of workplace-related adverse reproductive health outcomes for workers in federal and provincial/territorial OHS and related legislation. Although gender identity/expression and sexual orientation discrimination to protect harassment are well recognized in the federal and provincial/territorial human rights codes, our review of the Canadian federal and provincial/territorial OHS legislation and employment standards suggests a substantial gap in addressing workplace sexual harassment and violence. Conclusion: Our review of Canadian federal and provincial/territorial occupational health and safety legislation suggests a substantial gap in addressing workplace sexual/reproductive health. An all-hazards/universal precautions approach, not a focused reproductive health protection-specific approach, was adopted within OHS legislation to manage workplace risks. Harassment was mainly recognized with less robust discussion of sexual harassment and violence protections. This thesis revealed a need to modernize Canadian OHS legislation to explicitly address workplace-related reproductive health safety concerns and protections for sexual/gender-based harassment and workplace violence.

This study aimed to assess the magnitude, trends and determinants of intrapartum stillbirths in the public health facilities in Addis Ababa. A case-control study design was used along with quantitative data collection methods. Obstetric care data on key variables were collected from medical records of 728 cases and 1551 controls in the public health facilities during July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015. Data were analysed using SPSS version 24 to determine associations and risk factors against intrapartum stillbirth. HMIS data from different sources were further analysed for the same period to determine trends of stillbirth in the public health facilities of Addis Ababa. Findings from this study showed a staggering high prevalence of stillbirth at an average rate of 28 per 1000 births during the period 2010-2015. This figure was comparable with the population level prevalence of prenatal death in Addis Ababa which was 30 per 1000 birth (Central Statistical Agency 2011:115). No statistically significant associations were revealed against the effects of maternal medical conditions including diabetes, hypertension, cardiac and renal diseases and key socio-demographic variables including age, parity and marital status, and intrapartum stillbirth. On the contrary, HIV and syphilis infections, foetal presentations, multiple pregnancy and the frequency of ANC visits during the index pregnancy had statistically significant associations with intrapartum stillbirth. Furthermore, low FHR, non-vertex foetal presentations and ruptured cervical membrane on admission to labour were among risk factors for intrapartum stillbirth. Similarly, women in the stillbirth group received substandard care regarding the timely assessment of foetal decent, cervical dilatation, labour induction, and episiotomy care compared to women in the livebirth group. Obstetrical complications including obstructed labour, eclampsia and preeclampsia were more common among women in the intrapartum stillbirth group indicating that the above variables were key determinant of intrapartum stillbirth. These findings suggest that poor quality of obstetric care during labour and childbirth were the underlying risk factors for intrapartum stillbirth. In conclusion, strategies to overhaul the obstetric care practices in the public health facilities through skills building, accurate use of labour monitoring tools, close supervisions, accurate classification of stillbirth, proper documentation, and ongoing research efforts. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Pregnancies and childbirths are not just biological or medical events. Childbirths are also emotionally intense situations, not only for the parents-to-be but also for those who work in delivery care. In addition, pregnancies and childbirths are sociocultural situations; there are norms regarding the normal birth. The study investigates how future midwives learn about the interactive and emotional work involved in supporting women in delivery care. It focuses on norms about the normal birthing trajectory and on how a midwife should encounter patients’ feelings and handle her own feelings in a “proper” way. Based on observations of collaborative group discussions within Swedish universitybased midwifery education, the study shows how students negotiate the appropriate feeling norms in normal birth, as well as in complicated and even tragic situations. In focus are their discussions on how to support the birthing women, their partners, and the babies, and the categorization work needed to recognize potential deviations from the normal birth. The study is based on a situated learning perspective on education, and combines sociological and anthropological approaches to emotions to elucidate how students within midwifery education negotiate the professional handling of normal and complicated births and the attendant feeling norms. / Graviditeter och förlossningar är inte bara biologiska eller medicinska händelser. Förlossningar är också känslomässigt intensiva situationer, både för de blivande föräldrarna och för dem som arbetar inom förlossningsvård. Graviditeter och förlossningar kan dessutom ses som sociokulturella händelser och det finns normer om den normala förlossningen. I avhandlingen undersöks hur framtida barnmorskor lär sig att stödja kvinnor inom förlossningsvården och det interaktiva och emotionella arbete som det innebär. Avhandlingen fokuserar på normer om den normala  förlossningstrajektorian samt hur en barnmorska ska bemöta patienternas känslor och hantera sina egna känslor på ett ”korrekt” sätt. Baserat på observationer av basgruppsgruppdiskussioner under den universitetsförlagda delen av en barnmorskeutbildning, visar studien hur barnmorskestudenter förhandlar känslonormer i relation till normal förlossning samt till komplicerade och även tragiska situationer. I fokus är studenternas diskussioner om hur de kan stödja de födande kvinnor, deras partners och barn samt den kategorisering som behövs för att identifiera eventuella avvikelser från den normala förlossningen. Studien bygger på ett situerat lärandeperspektiv på utbildning och kombinerar sociologiska och antropologiska förhållningssätt till känslor för att på så sätt belysa hur studenter inom en barnmorskeutbildning förhandlar hur normala och komplicerade förlossningar bör hanteras och de känslonormer som framkommer.

La mortalité maternelle et périnatale est un problème majeur de santé publique dans les pays en développement. Elle illustre l’écart important entre les pays développés et les pays en développement. Les interventions techniques pour améliorer la santé maternelle et périnatale sont connues dans les pays en développement, mais ce sont la faiblesse des systèmes de santé et les défis liés aux ressources qui freinent leur généralisation. L’objectif principal de ce travail était de mieux comprendre le rôle des ressources humaines en particulier ceux de la première ligne dans la performance d’un système de référence maternelle. Au Mali, la mise en place d’un système de référence maternelle, système de référence-évacuation « SRE », fait partie des mesures nationales de lutte contre la mortalité maternelle et périnatale. Les trois composantes du SRE, soit les caisses de solidarité, le transport et la communication et la mise à niveau des soins obstétricaux, permettent une action simultanée du côté de la demande et de l’offre de soins maternels et périnatals. Néanmoins, la pénurie de personnel qualifié a conduit à des compromis sur la qualification du personnel dans l’implantation de ce système. La région de Kayes, première région administrative du Mali, est une région de forte émigration. Elle dispose d’une offre de soins plus diversifiée qu’ailleurs au Mali, grâce à l’appui des Maliens de l’extérieur. Son SRE offre ainsi un terrain d’études adéquat pour l’analyse du rôle des professionnels de première ligne. De façon plus spécifique, ce travail avait pour objectifs 1) d’identifier les caractéristiques des équipes de soins de première ligne qui sont associées à une meilleure performance du SRE en termes de survie simultanée de la mère et du nouveau-né et 2) d’approfondir la compréhension des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines, susceptibles d’expliquer les variations de la performance du SRE de Kayes. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons, à partir du cadre de référence de Michie et West modélisé les facteurs liés aux ressources humaines qui ont une influence potentielle sur la performance du SRE de Kayes. L’exploration des variations du processus motivationnel a été faite à partir de la théorie de l’attente de Vroom. Nous avons ensuite combiné une revue de la littérature et un devis de recherche mixte (quantitative et qualitative). Les données pour les analyses quantitatives proviennent d’un système d’enregistrement continu de toutes les urgences obstétricales (GESYRE : Gestion du Système de Référence Évacuation mis en place depuis 2004 dans le cadre du suivi et de l’évaluation du SRE de Kayes) et des enquêtes à passages répétés sur les données administratives et du personnel des centres de santé. Un modèle de régression biprobit a permis d’évaluer les effets du niveau d’entrée dans le SRE et des équipes de soins sur la survie jointe de la mère et du nouveau-né. A l’aide d’entrevues semi-structurées et d’observations, nous avons exploré les pratiques de gestion des personnes dans des centres de santé communautaires « CScom » sélectionnés par un échantillonnage raisonné. Les résultats de ce travail ont confirmé que la main d’œuvre humaine demeure cruciale pour la performance du SRE. Les professionnels de première ligne ont influencé la survie des femmes et des nouveau-nés, à morbidités égales, et lorsque la distance parcourue est prise en compte. La meilleure survie de la mère et du nouveau-né est retrouvée dans les cas d’accès direct à l’hôpital régional. Les femmes qui sont évacuées des centres de première ligne où il y a plus de professionnels ou un personnel plus qualifié avaient un meilleur pronostic materno-fœtal que celles qui ont consulté dans des centres qui disposent de personnel peu qualifié. Dans les centres de première ligne dirigés par un médecin, des variations favorables à la performance comme une implication directe des médecins dans les soins, un environnement de soins concurrentiel ont été retrouvés. Concernant les pratiques de gestion dans les centres de première ligne, les chefs de poste ont mis en place des incitatifs pour motiver le personnel à plus de performance. Le processus motivationnel demeure toutefois très complexe et variable. La désirabilité de bons résultats des soins (valence) est élevée pour tous les professionnels ; cependant les motifs étaient différents entre les catégories de personnel. Par ailleurs, le faible niveau d’équipements et la multiplicité des acteurs ont empêché l’établissement d’un lien entre l’effort fourni par les professionnels et les résultats de soins. Cette compréhension du rôle des professionnels de première ligne pourra aider le personnel administratif à mieux cibler le monitorage de la performance du SRE. Le personnel de soins pourra s’en servir pour reconnaitre et appliquer les pratiques associées à une bonne performance. Dans le domaine de la recherche, les défis de recherche ultérieurs sur les facteurs humains de la performance du SRE seront mieux identifiés. / Although proven effective interventions have been transferred from the developed world, developing countries still face high maternal and perinatal deaths. Weak health systems and human resources crisis hinder the scaling up of those interventions. This study is aimed at improving the understanding of the role of human resources, especially the first line staff in a maternal referral system, the evacuation and referral system (ERS) of Kayes (Mali). The implantation of the ERS as part of major strategies for fighting maternal and perinatal deaths has been generalised in Mali’s eight administrative regions. The ERS main components are: upgrading of emergency obstetric care (EmOC); funding by a solidarity fund; and improving transport and communication by ambulance. These components allows for joint action regarding the supply and the use of maternal and perinatal services. Yet, due to the shortages in skilled birth attendants, the extension of the coverage in emergency obstetric services has been made with less qualified staff. Kayes is Mali’s first administrative region and a cradle of emigration. It therefore offers, with the support of its immigrants, a more diversified primary care provision than elsewhere in Mali. This gives an opportunity of studying the role of primary care staff in the ERS performance. More precisely, the objectives of this research were to: 1 identify characteristics of primary care teams that influenced the ERS performance assessed by the joint mother-child survival and 2) improve the understanding of human resources practices associated with ERS performance. We combined a systematic literature review with a mixed quantitative and qualitative research design. Kayes ERS performance was modelised using Michie and West conceptual framework and the motivational process was explored with Vroom’s expectancy theory. Data for the quantitative analyses derived from an ongoing system of registering all obstetric emergencies implemented since 2004 (GESYRE: Gestion du Système de Référence Évacuation / Management of the Evacuation Referral System) and periodic surveys. A biprobit regression model has been fitted to estimate the effects of the point of entry in the ERS and the primary care team composition on the joint mother-newborn survival. We also conducted semi structured interviews and non participant observations in order to explore human resources practices in purposely selected community health centers. This research confirmed the importance of human resources in ERS performance. When women’ individual risk factors are controlled for, there is a combined effect of distance traveled and the point of entry in the ERS on one side and the community health centers staff on the other hand, on the mother-child joint survival. The best prognosis of care was found in women who directly accessed care at the regional hospital. Having been transferred from a community health center where there is a physician or more than three professionals increased the mother-child survival probability. Physicians in community health centers develop strategies for a better performance of the health centers they managed: direct implication in care and a competitive care environment. Primary care managers set up incentives to motivate staff. The motivation process remains however a variable and complex one. The desirability of good results was common for all staff though its motivations varied according to the type of staff. Besides, due to insufficiency of material and multiples intermediate factors, perception of a linkage between effort and result was low. This increased understanding of the role of primary care human resources in the ERS performance would focus the management of ERS performance on targeted but effective interventions. The workforce could benefit from the study conclusions in identifying and applying best practices. Further research challenges would also be more precisely identified.