BackgroundResearch and different organizations have proposed indicators to monitor the quality of maternal and child healthcare, such indicators are used for different purposes.ObjectiveTo perform a systematic review of indicators for the central phases of the maternal and child healthcare continuum of care (pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care and postpartum).MethodA search conducted using international repositories, national and international indicator sets, scientific articles published between 2012 and 2016, and grey literature. The eligibility criteria was documents in Spanish or English with indicators to monitor aspects of the continuum of care phases of interest.The identified indicators were characterized as follows: formula, justification, evidence level, pilot study, indicator type, phase of the continuum, intended organizational level of application, level of care, and income level of the countries. Selection was based on the characteristics associated with scientific soundness (formula, evidence level, and reliability).ResultsWe identified 1791 indicators. Three hundred forty-six were duplicated, which resulted in 1445 indicators for analysis. Only 6.7% indicators exhibited all requirements for scientific soundness. The distribution by the classifying variables is clearly uneven, with a predominance of indicators for childbirth, hospital care and facility level.ConclusionsThere is a broad choice of indicators for maternal and child healthcare. However, most indicators lack demonstrated scientific soundness and refer to particular continuum phases and levels within the healthcare system. Additional efforts are needed to identify good indicators for a comprehensive maternal and child healthcare monitoring system.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-019-2173-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objetivo. Comparar la percepción de la calidad de aten­ción ambulatoria de servicios de salud en 2012 y 2018, por condición indígena y no indígena. Material y métodos. Con información de dos encuestas poblacionales (Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición [Ensanut] 2012 y Ensanut 100k) se analizó la calidad de atención con indicadores de estructura, proceso, resultado en salud y satisfacción. Resultados. En­tre 2012 y 2018 aumentó la utilización de servicios privados, disminuyó la buena opinión sobre las condiciones del lugar y la percepción de tiempo de espera corto para utilizadores no indígenas. Para servicios públicos se mantuvo alto el surtimiento de medicamentos, disminuyó la realización de estudios de laboratorio y gabinete en la unidad de atención y la explicación del tratamiento farmacológico principalmente en no indígenas. La percepción de mejoría y la satisfacción fue buena. Conclusión. Es prioritario un modelo de atención ambulatoria acorde con las necesidades y expectativas de la población más vulnerable y, principalmente, indígena.