[Development of mechanisms for evaluation of the quality of perinatal care].

Published evidence of the actual efforts for the development of mechanism for the quality assessment and assurance of perinatal care in the USA, Belgium, Netherlands and West Germany is presented. The choice of countries was determined by the availability of evidence. Despite known differences in the health care systems, every country developing mechanisms for the quality assessment in a particular field of health care involves in this process its respective professional associations. In the case of perinatal care it is the association of gynecologists and obstetricians. The administration of the process lies within the JCAH in the US and the ministries of health and universities in other countries.