BACKGROUND Increasing global health efforts have focused on preventing pregnancy-related maternal deaths, but the factors that contribute to maternal deaths in specific high-burden nations are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence the occurrence of maternal deaths in a regional maternity hospital in Kuando Kubango province of Angola. METHODS The study...

OBJECTIVE To look at the trends in maternal mortality in our institution over 5 years. METHODS Records of 112 maternal deaths were retrospectively reviewed to determine the trends and the likely direct cause of each death over the study period. RESULTS There were a total of 112 maternal deaths, while 3931 deliveries were conducted over the 5-year period. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) w...

More than 99% of maternal deaths occur in low-resource settings; in parts of the developing world, as many as one in six women die of maternal causes. Currently, seven developing countries-Afghanistan, Angola, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania-have maternal mortality ratios of at least 1,400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

CONTEXT Japan's maternal mortality rate is higher than that of other developed countries. OBJECTIVES To identify causes of maternal mortality in Japan, examine attributes of treating facilities associated with maternal mortality, and assess the preventability of such deaths. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study of maternal deaths occurring in Japan between January 1, 1991, and December ...

Maternal mortality has been identified as a priority issue in health policy and research in India. The country, with an annual decrease of maternal mortality rate by 4.9% since 1990, now records 63,000 maternal deaths a year. India tops the list of countries with high maternal mortality. Based on a verbal autopsy study of 403 maternal deaths, conducted in 2008, this paper explores the missed op...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of specific protocols that have been developed in response to a previous analysis of maternal deaths in a large hospital system. We also analyzed the theoretic impact of an ideal system of maternal triage and transport on maternal deaths and the relative performance of cause of death determination from chart review compared with a ...

BACKGROUND Norway has low maternal mortality, but such deaths are underreported even in high-income countries. Our goal was to identify the exact number of maternal deaths, the causes of death and the potential for improvement through medical care in Norway. MATERIAL AND METHOD We traced maternal deaths in the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2009 by linking the Medical Birth Registr...

BACKGROUND Deaths from maternal causes represent the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in most developing countries. It is estimated that the highest risk occurs in Africa, with 20% of world births but 40% of the world maternal deaths. The level of maternal mortality is difficult to assess especially in countries without an adequate vital registration system. Indirect techn...

Global burden of maternal mortality The number of maternal deaths is unconscionably high. An estimated 500,000 women die each year in pregnancy and childbirth.1 An estimated 10 million more women suffer serious maternal morbidities,2 including debilitating and socially devastating conditions such as uterine prolapses and obstetric fistulae.3 In addition, substantial proportions of the 3 million...