Quality assurance is an ongoing process, including not only the assess
ment and evaluation of the quality of care, but also the definition an
d implementation of strategies to improve the quality. The process of
quality assurance must start from the identification of health problem
s and of the appropriate interventions to address those problems. In p
erinatal fare, however, appropriate assessment of the effectiveness of
diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and can routines has often b
een lacking. This symposium will discuss examples of the various steps
in quality assurance in perinatal care from countries in the Baltic r
egion.