A report of women's birth experiences in Baku, Azerbaijan

The findings from a survey exploring women's perceptions of their care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period in Baku, Azerbaijan, initiated by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, are reported here. In the former Soviet Union, on which the perinatal health care systems of Azerbaijan are based, care for women during the perinatal period was based on using available technology and on a physician-centred model of care. Women's perceptions of their care were infrequently if ever sought or heeded. As healthcare systems are being strengthened in these countries, there is an increasing interest in providing a woman-centered or family-centered approach to care as well as offering appropriate medical care birthing procedures. This study explores the progress made in Azerbaijan in implementing such changes since the introduction of a perinatal reform process a few years ago. Findings indicate some significant deviations from traditional maternity care practices in Baku since the breakdown of the Soviet Union. A more humanistic and evidence-based approach to care is being introduced. It is evident that maternity houses in Baku are also providing better support for infant feeding than many of their former Soviet Union counterparts indicating the effective implementation of the principles of breastfeeding encouraged through the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative program in that country.