Enhancing perinatal care in Rwanda: building quality improvement into system strengthening - Report - MDSpire

Enhancing perinatal care in Rwanda: building quality improvement into system strengthening

  • By

  • Lisine Tuyisenge

  • Jean-Petit Habonimana

  • Alexis Nsengiyumva

  • Francois Regis Cyiza

  • Emmanuel Manzi

  • Samson Desie

  • Alexandra Pledge

  • Sarah McMurtrie

  • Clemence Muzard-Banes

  • Marie Bontoux

  • Sebastian Taylor

  • June 24, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

Clinical Report: Improving Perinatal Care in Rwanda: Integrating Quality Enhancement

Overview

A multiphase program in Rwanda from 2017 to 2023 aimed to improve neonatal care quality and reduce neonatal mortality. The initiative involved collaboration among various health organizations and highlighted systemic constraints affecting care delivery.

Background

Rwanda has made progress in maternal and child health, yet neonatal mortality rates have plateaued, with most deaths occurring in healthcare facilities. The primary causes of neonatal mortality include prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, and infections.

Data Highlights

YearNeonatal Mortality Rate (%)
201711.8
20236.2

Key Findings

  • Neonatal mortality decreased from 11.8% in 2017 to 6.2% in 2023.
  • Quality improvement processes identified systemic constraints in care delivery.
  • Most neonatal deaths occurred in the early neonatal period, primarily on the day of delivery.
  • Key causes of neonatal death included prematurity (46%) and perinatal asphyxia (22.7%).
  • The program involved clinical training and mentorship for healthcare providers.

Clinical Implications

Focus on quality improvement processes within neonatal care to address systemic issues.

Conclusion

The partnership in Rwanda illustrates the implementation of quality improvement initiatives in neonatal care.

Related Resources & Content

  1. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 2023 -- Reflections on a global partnership for perinatal quality improvement in Rwanda
  2. BJS (British Journal of Surgery) — Enhancing Antibiotic Stewardship in Surgical Practices within Resource-Limited Environments: A Multicenter, Prospective Quality Improvement Investigation
  3. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — Quality of antenatal care provision in rural villages of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, India: a quantitative formative study to help the development of an evidence-based contextualized complex health intervention of the CHAMPION2 cluster randomized trial
  4. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — Improving maternity and neonatal care in England: protocol for a formative evaluation of the implementation of the core competency framework to enhance multi-professional practice
  5. Rwanda's Health Sector Strategic Plan V
  6. Reflections on a global partnership for perinatal quality improvement in Rwanda | BMJ Paediatrics Open
  7. Neonatal Life Support: 2025 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics
  8. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025 Newborn Resuscitation and Support of Transition of Infants at Birth - PubMed
  9. WHO recommendations
  10. Effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy outcome:- umbrella review | Intensive Care Medicine – Paediatric and Neonatal | Springer Nature Link

Original Source(s)

Enhancing perinatal care in Rwanda: building quality improvement into system strengthening

  • by Lisine Tuyisenge, Jean-Petit Habonimana, Alexis Nsengiyumva, Francois Regis Cyiza, Emmanuel Manzi, Samson Desie, Alexandra Pledge, Sarah McMurtrie, Clemence Muzard-Banes, Marie Bontoux, Sebastian Taylor

  • June 24, 2026

Related Content

Beta-2 Agonists Tied to ASD Risk?

Systematic review of 8 observational studies found limited evidence on associations between prenatal asthma-medication exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, with autism spectrum disorder the only outcome suitable for meta-analysis.

Updated COVID Shot Linked to Added Protection

Updated 2025-2026 vaccination was linked to added protection in a CDC-funded analysis that became part of a broader debate over routine vaccine monitoring.

No Short-Term Brain Changes in Youth Soccer

Researchers tracked cognitive, behavioral, imaging, and biomarker outcomes in 129 adolescent athletes across one season.