objective To assess whether implementation of a prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
(PMTCT) programme in Coˆte d’Ivoire improved the quality of antenatal and delivery care services.
methods Quality of antenatal and delivery care services was assessed in five urban health facilities
before (2002–2003) and after (2005) the implementation of a PMTCT programme through review of
facility data; observation of antenatal consultations (n = 606 before; n = 591 after) and deliveries
(n = 229 before; n = 231 after) and exit interviews of women; and interviews of health facility staff.
results HIV testing was never proposed at baseline and was proposed to 63% of women at the first
ANC visit after PMTCT implementation. The overall testing rate was 42% and 83% of tested HIVinfected
pregnant women received nevirapine. In addition, inter-personal communication and confi-
dentiality significantly improved in all health facilities. In the maternity ward, quality of obstetrical care
at admission, delivery and post-partum care globally improved in all facilities after the implementation
of the programme although some indicators remained poor, such as filling in the partograph directly
during labour. Episiotomy rates among primiparous women dropped from 64% to 25% (P < 0.001)
after PMTCT implementation. Global scores for quality of antenatal and delivery care significantly
improved in all facilities after the implementation of the programme.
conclusions Introducing comprehensive PMTCT services can improve the quality of antenatal and
delivery care in general.