The utility of delivery ward register data for determining the causes of perinatal mortality in one specialized and one general hospital in south Ethiopia

Background Globally, the burden of perinatal mortality is high. Reliable measures of perinatal mortality are necessary for planning and assessing prenatal, obstetric, and newborn care services. However, accurate record-keeping is often a major challenge in low resource settings. In this study we aimed to assess the utility of delivery ward register data, captured at birth by healthcare providers, to determine causes of perinatal mortality in one specialized and one general hospital in south Ethiopia. Methods Three years (2014–2016) of delivery register for 13,236 births were reviewed from July 12 to September 29, 2018, in two selected hospitals in south Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured pretested data extraction form. Descriptive statistics assessed early neonatal mortality rate, stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate and causes of neonatal deaths. Factors associated with early neonatal deaths and stillbirths were examined using logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were reported to show the strength of the association. Result The perinatal mortality ratio declined from 96.6 to 75.5 per 1000 births during the three-year study period. Early neonatal mortality and stillbirth rates were 29.3 per 1000 live births and 55.2 per 1000 total births, respectively. The leading causes of neonatal death were prematurity 47.5%, and asphyxia 20.7%. The cause of death for 15.6% of newborns was not recorded in the delivery registers. Similarly, the cause of neonatal morbidity was not recorded in 1.5% of the delivery registers. Treatment given for 94.5% of neonates were blank in the delivery registers, so it is unknown if the neonates received treatment or not. Factors associated with increased early neonatal deaths were maternal deaths and complications, vaginal births, APGAR scores less than 7 at five minutes and low birth weight (2500 g). Maternal deaths and complications and vaginal births were associated with increased stillbirths. Conclusion Our findings show that an opportunity exists to identify perinatal death and newborn outcomes from the delivery ward registers, but some important neonatal outcomes were not recorded/missing. Efforts towards improving the medical record systems are needed. Furthermore, there is a need to improve maternal health during pregnancy and birth, especially neonatal care for those neonates who experienced low APGAR scores and birth weight to reduce the prevalence of perinatal deaths.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Maternal Hypertensive Disorder Among Mothers in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Maternal hypertensive disorder (MHD) complicates 10% of pregnancy worldwide. In Malaysia, the percentage of maternal deaths due to MHD increased from 2012 to 2017 and did not show any decline yet. Hence, this study was aimed to develop and validate the questionnaires, to measure the level of knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) on MHD, to evaluate the associated factors and any correlation between KAP on MHD. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kuantan, Pahang between January 2020 and March 2020. A convenience sampling was used, and self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 100 respondents that fulfil the criteria. The questionnaire was developed through literature review and validated by five medical experts. Then, the pilot study validation was resulted in 0.894 of Cronbach’s Alpha test, which achieved the reliability between the questions. Most of the respondents had a moderate knowledge (n=63; 63.0%), moderate attitude (n=66; 66.0%) and high practices (n=61; 61.0%) on MHD. There was no significant association between socio-demographic factors and KAP of the respondents. A significant correlation is identified between knowledge and attitude (r=0.613, p<0.001) and knowledge and practice (r =0.326, p=0.001) but no significant association between attitude and practice (r=0.183, p=0.068). In conclusion, this study has revealed that majority of the respondents possess moderate knowledge and attitude, and excellent practice on MHD. Hence, future studies that related to KAP on maternal mortality and morbidity across setting should be done so that the early prevention steps can be taken to accommodate the possible problems that may arise in the future.

Maternal mortality in the city of Berlin: consequences for perinatal healthcare

Objectives The fifth of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals proposed for 2000–2015 was to improve maternal health, which has only partially been achieved. Worldwide, the maternal mortality ratio is currently estimated at 216/100.000 livebirths, compared to 380/100,000 in 1990. As yet, there has been no published comprehensive analysis of maternal mortality data as it pertains to Berlin and by extension Germany. Aim of the study was to evaluate and analyze the maternal mortality rate of Berlin as a result of shortcomings in healthcare provision and identify possible solutions. Methods The Institute for Quality and Transparency in the Healthcare Sector sourced external quality control from the Qualitätsbüro Berlin to provide maternal mortality data from Berlin hospitals from 2007 to 2020. Results Nineteen maternal deaths were registered between 2007 and 2020 in total. Case analysis shows that two main events occur: thrombosis and hemorrhage at 31.6%, respectively, followed by hypertensive disorder (15.8%), and sepsis (15.8%). After detailed analysis of each case report, we determined 8/19 (42.1%) maternal deaths as being potentially preventable given slightly altered circumstances. Consequences The system of registration of perinatal data in Germany does not allow for a comprehensive recording of maternal death and requires alteration to provide a more accurate picture of the phenomenon of maternal mortality; presumably, there exist twice as many unreported cases. Conclusions Symptoms, risks, and primary prevention tactics of thromboembolism during pregnancy and birth should be imparted to every licensed professional in individual hospital settings, along with evidence-based simulation training for the event of obstetric or prepartum hemorrhage.

A retrospective analysis of maternal mortality in an urban tertiary care hospital

Background: The aims of the study were to generate information regarding causes and complications leading to maternal deaths in an urban tertiary care centre and to find if any of the causes are preventable.Methods: The medical records of all maternal deaths occurring over a period of 4 years between January 2015 and December 2018 were reviewed.Results: Maternal mortality ratio ranged between 127 and 48 per 1, 00,000 births in the study. The causes of deaths were haemorrhage (29.47%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) (28.42%), anaemia (12.63%), sepsis (9.47%), thromboembolism (6.31%), hepatic causes (5.26%), blood reactions (3.15%), heart diseases (2.10%), central nervous system (CNS) related (1.05%) and others (2.10%). Maximum deaths occurred in women between 21-30 years of age. Mortality was highest in post-natal mothers (70.52%).Conclusions: Overall maternal mortality due to direct obstetric causes was (73.68%), indirect obstetric causes (22.10%) and unrelated causes (4.2%).

Assessing individual factors associated with choice of place of delivery among postnatal women in Marsabit County, Kenya.

Background: Globally, about 295,000 maternal deaths occurred in 2017 with Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia accounting for 86%. Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for nearly two-thirds. The rate of skilled birth attendant in Sub-African region stood at 59%. Three quarters of neonatal and maternal deaths occur outside hospital settings. Currently, the rate of maternal mortality in Kenya stands at 362 per 100,000 live births. Despite the deliberate government interventions to increase hospital deliveries, still a significant number of women deliver at home. The objective of this study was to assess the individual actors associated with choice of place of delivery among postnatal women in Marsabit County, Kenya. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study adopting both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A total of 416 postnatal women were systematically sampled from households at a predetermined interval of four. Key informants interviews and focused group discussions provided additional qualitative data.Results: Approximately 56.7% of postnatal women in Marsabit County delivered in health facilities. Most individual factors such as decision maker (p=0.031), myths and misconceptions (p=0.025), reduction of complications (p=0.001), hospital delivery time consuming (p=0.023) and possession of medical insurance (p=0.001) were significantly associated with choice of place of delivery. Conclusions: Approximately 6 out 10 deliveries occur at health facilities in Marsabit County. Individual factors significantly influenced choice of place of delivery. There is need for the ministry of health, County Government of Marsabit and relevant stakeholders to demystify myths and misconceptions about hospital deliveries, scale up awareness on availability of Linda Mama medical cover for pregnant women to ensure easy access of hospital delivery services.

International Academy of Perinatal Medicine (IAPM) guidelines for screening, prediction, prevention and management of pre-eclampsia to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries

Approximately 800 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around the world every day, 99% of which occur in developing countries. In majority of cases deaths are related to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. The purpose of new adjusted and simplified IAPM guidelines is specifically lowering maternal mortality by decreasing preventable deaths in developing countries (particularly in remote rural areas) by using rather cheap medicines used to control chronic and gestational hypertension, prevent pre-eclampsia in high-risk pregnancies and treat severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. IAPM guidelines should be implemented and evaluated in each developing country respecting specific problems, needs and resources. It is of essential importance to: 1. Identify specific high-risk pregnancies, 2. Commence timely appropriate ASA and calcium supplementation, 3. Organize basic antenatal care and adequate referral of pregnancies with early onset of pre-eclampsia to the appropriate institutions and ensure induction of labour in well-equipped delivery facility for women with near-term and term pre-eclampsia 4. Ensure Magnesium sulphate availability to prevent severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia-related maternal deaths, and 5. Identify specific barriers for implementation of these guidelines and correct them accordingly. Only by systematic implementations of these guidelines, we may have a chance to decrease the mortality of pre-eclampsia an its complications as a killer number one of mothers in developing countries.

Assessment of the Midwives Knowledge on Utilization of Partograph in Management of Labour in Public Health Facilities in Tharaka Nithi County

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended Partograph as a labor management tool due to its impact in reducing obstetric labor complications and maternal deaths over the years. This labor management tool is inexpensive and appropriate for use in low-resource settings, particularly in developing countries. Despite the fact that many African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, have adopted the Partograph in labor management, there is little information on midwives' knowledge on the use of the tool in labor management. Understanding of how to use a Partograph is essential for reducing complications and maternal deaths. The purpose of this study was to determine midwives' knowledge on using the Partograph in labor management. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design. 45 midwives were randomly selected from 16 public health facilities in Tharaka Nithi County. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Focused Group Discussions were also conducted with 77 postnatal mothers who gave birth in the 16 health facilities. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and percentages) and Chi-Square tests. Thematic analysis was used to examine qualitative data. Results showed that 74% of midwives had used Partograph in labor monitoring, while 26% had never used the tool. 60% of the midwives had received Partograph training. Despite not having been trained, some midwives were using the Partograph. Findings revealed inconsistencies in the use of Partograph in labor management. A large proportion of midwives deviated from the WHO's recommended use of Partograph in the first stage of labor. The study recommended that the Tharaka Nithi County government, through the Ministry of Health, invest in Partograph utilization in-service training programs to provide nurses and midwives working in the maternity wing the necessary knowledge and skills for proper Partograph utilization. There is also a need for policy changes in institutions to ensure that nurses use of the Partograph as a strategy for reducing maternal mortality rates, improving motherhood, and labor management in the County. Key words: Partograph; labour management; public health facilities.

Tendencia actual de la mortalidad materna. Maternidad “Concepción Palacios” 2014-2020

Objective: To analyze maternal mortality in the Maternidad “Concepción Palacios” Hospital between January 2014 and December 2020. Methods: A descriptive, analytical, and retrospective study of maternal deaths occurred in the 2013-2018 period was carried out. Results: There were 73 maternal deaths, and a ratio of 135.96 per 100,000 live births. Direct maternal deaths were 60, 82.19% of the population and 13 indirect maternal deaths, 17.80%. The causes of direct maternal death were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 48.33%, sepsis 26.66%, and obstetric hemorrhage 23.33%, with a 1: 3 ratios of maternal deaths at extreme ages of reproductive life. Conclusions: The maternal death ratio in the Maternidad “Concepción Palacios” Hospital duplicates the goals of the sustainable development goals of the 2016-2030 agenda; there is an increase in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as a direct cause of maternal mortality. Primiparity, the absence or lack of data from prenatal control, cesarean sections, and admission-death time of less than 24 hours prevailed. Recommendations: Advances are needed in sexual and reproductive health education, education and training of health personnel in extreme maternal morbidity, analysis by theoretical premises identifying the social determinants of maternal mortality and the health reality related to its management, implementing preventive public policies with specific care guidelines. Keywords: Maternal mortality, Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, Maternal sepsis, Obstetric hemorrhage.

The necessity for Zambia's vitamin A sugar fortification requirement

Zambia faces a serious vitamin A deficiency (VAD) that affects most infants and expectant mothers, leading to night blindness, maternal deaths, and more. One of the efforts to address this is by permitting only the manufacture, sale, or import of household consumption sugar which is fortified with vitamin A - which is seen as a disguised restriction on international trade. Through a desk-top research study, the article examines the question, as to what extent Zambia's fortification requirement complies with the necessity principle in the Technical Barrier to Trade Annex to the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Trade (TBT Annex) and Article 2(2) of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). The research finds that the measure is a technical regulation with a legitimate objective to protect the health and lives of a target VAD Zambian population. Further, it is applied to both domestic and like foreign products; therefore, it is neither discriminatory nor directly linked to the lack of competitive opportunities for like foreign products. Even if fortified maize meal could be opted for instead of sugar, it cannot achieve the equivalent contribution in dealing with the VAD problem because of challenges, such as, the uncertainty in regulatory regime, and its irregular consumption pattern. Consequently, the sugar fortification requirement is not more trade restrictive than necessary under the TBT Annex and Article 2(2) of the TBT Agreement.