The Danish National Quality Database for Births

Figures & data

Figure 1 Schematic, standardized course of birth.

Note: Reproduced with permission from Kesmodel US, Jølving L. Measuring and improving quality in obstetrics – the implementation of national indicators in Denmark. Acta Obstet Gynecom Scand. 2011;90(10):295–304.² Copyright © 2011, with permission from John Wiley and Sons.
Abbreviations: CTG, cardiotocography; STAN, ST analysis; SBE, standard base excess; BW, birth weight.

Table 1 Process indicators in the Danish National Quality Database for Birth Comparison of results in 2012 and 2015

	2012	%	2015	%	P-value
Anesthesia/pain reliefa
Denmark	6,303/8,274	76.2	10,250/11,516	89.0	<0.001
Capital	1,129/1,724	65.5	3,801/4,300	88.4	<0.001
Sjaelland	880/1,326	66.4	1,205/1,369	88.0	<0.001
Funen and southern Jutland	1,172/1,653	70.9	1,884/2,149	88.4	<0.001
Central Jutland	2,274/2,602	87.4	2,667/2,942	90.7	<0.001
Northern Jutland	848/969	87.5	693/756	91.7	0.006
Continuous support for women in the delivery roomb
Denmark	42,398/47,599	89.0	43,027/45,920	93.7	<0.001
Capital	15,157/16,947	89.4	15,231/16,134	93.7	<0.001
Sjaelland	5,009/5,496	91.1	4,893/5,206	94.0	<0.001
Funen and southern Jutland	8,623/9,299	92.7	8,464/9,137	92.6	0.802
Central Jutland	9,716/11,583	83.9	10,805/11,443	94.4	<0.001
Northern Jutland	3,893/4,274	91.1	3,634/4,000	90.9	0.709
Cesarean sectionc – grade 1 with delivery within 15 minutes
Denmark	265/288	68.3	288/353	81.6	<0.001
Capital	35/62	56.5	80/104	76.9	0.006
Sjaelland	45/74	60.8	25/35	71.4	0.280
Funen and southern Jutland	75/113	66.4	71/85	83.5	0.007
Central Jutland	63/79	79.7	84/94	89.4	0.078
Northern Jutland	47/60	78.3	28/35	80.0	0.848
Cesarean sectiond – grade 2 with delivery within 30 minutes
Denmark	1,045/1,768	59.1	1,437/1,818	79.0	<0.001
Capital	235/372	63.2	532/664	80.1	<0.001
Sjaelland	147/295	49.8	147/195	75.4	<0.001
Funen and southern Jutland	267/492	54.3	243/337	72.1	<0.001
Central Jutland	237/365	64.9	350/409	85.6	<0.001
Northern Jutland	159/244	65.2	165/214	77.1	0.005

Notes: Comparison of results in 2012 and 2015.

a Proportion of birth epidural/birth spinal given within 1 hour from prescription.

b Proportion of women who continuously have a health care professional in the delivery room during the active phase of birth.

c Proportion of birthing women giving birth with acute cesarean section within the time recommended from decision to birth.

d Proportion of birthing women giving birth with acute cesarean section within the time recommended from decision to birth.

Table 2 Outcome indicators in the Danish National Quality Database for Birth

	2012	%	2015	%	P-value
Lacerations, third and fourth degreea
Denmark	1,231/19,874	6.2	822/19,592	4.2	<0.001
Capital	449/7,864	5.7	281/7,359	3.8	<0.001
Sjaelland	98/1,994	4.9	73/1,997	3.7	0.0495
Funen and southern Jutland	231/3,550	6.5	148/3,730	4.0	<0.001
Central Jutland	317/4,758	6.7	231/4,790	4.8	<0.001
Northern Jutland	136/1,708	8.0	89/1,716	5.2	<0.001
Postpartum hemorrhageb
Denmark	2,758/48,743	5.7	3,324/51,966	6.4	<0.001
Capital	930/17,864	5.2	1,216/18,329	6.6	<0.001
Sjaelland	352/4,635	7.6	355/5,986	5.9	<0.001
Funen and southern Jutland	590/9,579	6.2	711/10,323	6.9	0.038
Central Jutland	667/11,953	5.6	748/12,803	5.8	0.375
Northern Jutland	219/4,712	4.6	294/4,525	6.5	<0.001
Establishment of skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn infantc
Denmark	43,472/48,671	89.3	43,828/47,721	91.8	<0.001
Capital	15,329/17,778	86.2	15,234/16,881	90.2	<0.001
Sjaelland	5,181/5,673	91.3	5,068/5,555	91.2	0.860
Funen and southern Jutland	8,371/9,241	90.6	8,568/9,468	90.5	0.831
Central Jutland	10,774/11,621	92.7	11,350/11,796	96.2	<0.001
Northern Jutland	3,817/4,358	87.6	3,608/4,021	89.7	0.002
Severe fetal hypoxiad
Denmark	294/54,255	0.5	311/53,022	0.6	0.329
Capital	123/19,595	0.6	101/18,515	0.6	0.294
Sjaelland	35/6,387	0.6	31/6,143	0.5	0.738
Funen and southern Jutland	51/10,404	0.5	81/10,665	0.8	0.013
Central Jutland	62/13,018	0.5	70/13,224	0.5	0.543
Northern Jutland	23/4,851	0.5	28/4,475	0.6	0.321
Delivery of a healthy child after an uncomplicated birthe
Denmark	11,579/18,828	61.5	12,952/20,743	62.4	0.054
Capital	4,890/7,683	63.6	4,829/7,861	61.4	0.004
Sjaelland	911/1,615	56.4	1,316/2,185	60.2	0.018
Funen and southern Jutland	1,958/3,342	58.6	2,479/3,949	62.8	0.000
Central Jutland	2,734/4,376	62.5	3,224/4,961	65.0	0.012
Northern Jutland	1,086/1,812	59.9	1,104/1,787	61.8	0.257

Notes: Comparison of results in 2012 and 2015.

a Proportion of women with first-time births complicated with third or fourth degree lacerations (lacerations involving the anal sphincter muscle).

b Proportion of women with postpartum hemorrhage ≥1,000 mL.

c Proportion of births where close contact between the mother and the newborn infant is established within the first 2 hours after the child is born.

d Proportion of live-born children with neonatal hypoxia.

e Proportion of uncomplicated births resulting in a healthy child. The complications being cesarean section, episiotomy, severe lacerations, delivery by vacuum extraction, severe hemorrhage, and children with low Apgar score <7.

KesmodelUSJølvingLMeasuring and improving quality in obstetrics – the implementation of national indicators in DenmarkActa Obstet Gynecom Scand20119010295304

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