scholarly journals Traditional Beliefs and Learning about Maternal Risk in Zambia

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nava Ashraf ◽  
Erica Field ◽  
Giuditta Rusconi ◽  
Alessandra Voena ◽  
Roberta Ziparo
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Traditional Beliefs ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Maternal Risk ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Birth Complications ◽  
Female Perceptions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Very High

Maternal mortality remains very high in many parts of the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. While maternal deaths are observable, it may not be straightforward for individuals to learn about risk factors. This paper utilizes novel data on male and female perceptions of maternal risk in Zambia to document that superstitions about causes of maternal mortality are pervasive and to uncover evidence that such beliefs impede learning about maternal health risk levels and correlates. In our data, people who hold traditional beliefs disregard past birth complications completely in assessing future risk, unlike those who hold modern beliefs.

scholarly journals Magnitude, Trends and Causes of Maternal Mortality: A 7-year Review at a Tertiary Hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-109
Author(s):  
P. A. Awoyesuku ◽  
D. A. MacPepple ◽  
B. O. Altraide
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Postpartum Haemorrhage ◽  
Maternal Mortality Ratio ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Mortality Ratio ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: Maternal mortality ratios (MMR) are still unacceptably high in many low- and middle-income countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Background Data for the causes of maternal deaths are needed to inform policies to improve maternal healthcare and reduce maternal mortality. Objective: This study sought to determine the magnitude and trend in maternal mortality and the causes at a tertiary hospital over a seven-year study period. Methodology: This was a retrospective review of maternal mortality and causes from 2012 to 2018. Data on number of maternal deaths, deliveries and causes of death were retrieved from the departmental annual reports and hospital records and entered into Microsoft Excel 2013. Data were presented as line graphs, charts and frequency tables. Results: One hundred and ten (110) maternal deaths occurred out of 17,080 total births during the study period giving an overall MMR of 644. The MMR increased progressively from 580 in 2012 to 785 in 2018 with a sharp rise to the highest and subsequent decline to the lowest, values at the midpoint. The commonest causes of maternal deaths were Pre-eclampsia (PET) and Eclampsia 44(40%), Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) 25(22.7%) and Ruptured Uterus 13(11.8%). Conclusion: The maternal mortality ratio is high and the trend is worsening. The leading causes of maternal deaths were PET/Eclampsia and Postpartum haemorrhage accounting for about two-thirds of all deaths. Efforts must be geared towards improvements in the management of these cases, if this trend is to be reversed.

scholarly journals The Association between Maternal Mortality and Non-Medical factors in African Countries

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 351-362
Author(s):  
P. Lalthapersad-Pillay
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
National Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Medical Factors ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Sub Saharan

The medical expertise to treat to complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth has not spared girls and women in developing countries from dying of such conditions. Developing countries account for the bulk of the global share of maternal deaths with complications of pregnancy and childbirth being the leading cause of death in young women aged between 15 and 49. Sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for nearly three-fifths of all global maternal deaths which have saddled it with notoriously high levels of maternal mortality ratios, a concern that has been red-flagged internationally and regionally. Most studies on maternal mortality in Africa have been confined to an examination of factors impinging on maternal mortality from both medical and socioeconomic standpoints for individual country’s based on survey data. Our study differs from others as it employs logistic regression to look at the association between non-medical factors and maternal mortality nationally for all African countries. Whilst the results from the logistic regression suggests that there is no statistically significant relationship between any of the variables and maternal mortality, the odds ratio for Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross National Income per capita (GNI) imply that African countries with low HDI are about three time more likely to have high maternal mortality compared to high HDI countries. Similarly, African countries with low GNI are about five times more likely to have high maternal mortality compared to high GNI countries.

scholarly journals Protocol for analysing the epidemiology of maternal mortality in Zimbabwe: A civil registration and vital statistics trend study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252106
Author(s):  
Reuben Musarandega ◽  
Rhoderick Machekano ◽  
Robert Pattinson ◽  
Stephen Peter Munjanja ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Civil Registration ◽  
Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Ssa Countries

Background Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) carries the highest burden of maternal mortality, yet, the accurate maternal mortality ratios (MMR) are uncertain in most SSA countries. Measuring maternal mortality is challenging in this region, where civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems are weak or non-existent. We describe a protocol designed to explore the use of CRVS to monitor maternal mortality in Zimbabwe—an SSA country. Methods In this study, we will collect deliveries and maternal death data from CRVS (government death registration records) and health facilities for 2007–2008 and 2018–2019 to compare MMRs and causes of death. We will code the causes of death using classifications in the maternal mortality version of the 10th revision to the international classification of diseases. We will compare the proportions of maternal deaths attributed to different causes between the two study periods. We will also analyse missingness and misclassification of maternal deaths in CRVS to assess the validity of their use to measure maternal mortality in Zimbabwe. Discussion This study will determine changes in MMR and causes of maternal mortality in Zimbabwe over a decade. It will show whether HIV, which was at its peak in 2007–2008, remains a significant cause of maternal deaths in Zimbabwe. The study will recommend measures to improve the quality of CRVS data for future use to monitor maternal mortality in Zimbabwe and other SSA countries of similar characteristics.

scholarly journals Maternal mortality in six low and lower-middle income countries from 2010 to 2018: risk factors and trends

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (S3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Bauserman ◽  
Vanessa R. Thorsten ◽  
Tracy L. Nolen ◽  
Jackie Patterson ◽  
Adrien Lokangaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Maternal Risk ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Maternal mortality is a public health problem that disproportionately affects low and lower-middle income countries (LMICs). Appropriate data sources are lacking to effectively track maternal mortality and monitor changes in this health indicator over time. Methods We analyzed data from women enrolled in the NICHD Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) from 2010 through 2018. Women delivering within research sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, India (Nagpur and Belagavi), Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia are included. We evaluated maternal and delivery characteristics using log-binomial models and multivariable models to obtain relative risk estimates for mortality. We used running averages to track maternal mortality ratio (MMR, maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) over time. Results We evaluated 571,321 pregnancies and 842 maternal deaths. We observed an MMR of 157 / 100,000 live births (95% CI 147, 167) across all sites, with a range of MMRs from 97 (76, 118) in the Guatemala site to 327 (293, 361) in the Pakistan site. When adjusted for maternal risk factors, risks of maternal mortality were higher with maternal age > 35 (RR 1.43 (1.06, 1.92)), no maternal education (RR 3.40 (2.08, 5.55)), lower education (RR 2.46 (1.54, 3.94)), nulliparity (RR 1.24 (1.01, 1.52)) and parity > 2 (RR 1.48 (1.15, 1.89)). Increased risk of maternal mortality was also associated with occurrence of obstructed labor (RR 1.58 (1.14, 2.19)), severe antepartum hemorrhage (RR 2.59 (1.83, 3.66)) and hypertensive disorders (RR 6.87 (5.05, 9.34)). Before and after adjusting for other characteristics, physician attendance at delivery, delivery in hospital and Caesarean delivery were associated with increased risk. We observed variable changes over time in the MMR within sites. Conclusions The MNHR is a useful tool for tracking MMRs in these LMICs. We identified maternal and delivery characteristics associated with increased risk of death, some might be confounded by indication. Despite declines in MMR in some sites, all sites had an MMR higher than the Sustainable Development Goals target of below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Trial registration The MNHR is registered at NCT01073475.

scholarly journals Factors associated with maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: an ecological study

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Luis Alvarez ◽  
Ruth Gil ◽  
Valentín Hernández ◽  
Angel Gil
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Production And Use Of A Shelf-Stable Bovine Blood Powder For Food Fortification As A Food-Based Strategy To Combat Iron Deficiency Anaemia In Sub-Saharan Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 01-18
Author(s):  
JK Kikafunda ◽  
◽  
P Sserumaga ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Bovine Blood ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Shelf Stable ◽  
Very High

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most widespread micro-nutrient deficiency disease world-wide, particularly in developing countries. Although there are several strategies to combat IDA, food-based strategies are the most sustainable and yet little research has been carried out in this area. The study aimed at developing a technology for processing and preserving bovine blood into a shelf-stable powder, which would easily be utilised in fortifying commonly consumed food items, as a food-based strategy in the fight against iron deficiency anaemia. A shelf-stable powder was processed from fresh bovine blood and the physical, chemical, microbiological and shelf-life characteristics assessed using conventional methods. The results of the chemical analysis showed that bovine blood powder has a very high concentration of haeme iron at 195.46 mg/100g of powder. This is more than ten times the level of iron in bovine liver, one of the most commonly used food source of haeme iron whose iron content is only 17 mg/100gm of liver. Although microbiological tests carried out on the freshly processed blood powder and on the same powder after one and three months of storage at room temperature found a significant rise in yeast, mould and total plate counts, these values were low and within safe limits. The blood powder was used to fortify a bean sauce. Sensory analysis panellists considered the fortified bean sauce moderately acceptable with a mean score of 4.667 (like slightly) compared to a mean score of 2.333 (like very much) for the non-fortified sauce, on a nine point Hedonic scale. These findings show that processed bovine blood powder has very high levels of haeme iron and thus has great potential as a food-based strategy to combat iron-deficiency anaemia in resource-poor developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. However, more research is needed to improve the microbiological and sensory characteristics of the blood powder.

scholarly journals MATERNAL MORTALITY

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
TASNIM TAHIRA REHMAN ◽  
MAHNAZ ROOHI
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Maternal Death ◽  
Maternal Mortality Ratio ◽  
Emergency Obstetric Care ◽  
Obstetric Care ◽  
Care Level ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Mortality Ratio ◽  
Study Setting ◽  
Very High

Objective: To find out maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and to determine major causes of maternal death. S t u d y d e s i g n:A descriptive study. Setting: Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. S t u d y period: From 01.01.2008 to31.12.2008. Materials a n d m e t h o d s : All cases of maternal death during this study periods were included except accidental deaths. Results:There were 58 maternal deaths during this period. Total No. of live births were 5975. MMR was 58/5975 x 100,000 = 970/100,000 live births.The most common cause of maternal death was hemorrhage (34.5%) followed by hypertensive disorders/eclampsia (31%). Most of thepatients (75.86%) were referred from primary & secondary care level. C o n c l u s i o n : Maternal mortality is still very high in underdevelopedcountries including Pakistan. We must enhance emergency obstetric care (EOC) to achieve the goal of reduction in MMR.

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